Bhubaneswar: In a fresh bid to address longstanding cultural and religious sensitivities, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has written to his West Bengal counterpart Suvendu Adhikari, requesting for removal of the word “Dham” from the official nomenclature of newly-built Jagannath temple in East Midnapore Digha’s town.
In his letter, CM Majhi said: “The naming of the Jagannath temple complex at Digha as ‘Digha Jagannath Dham’ has generated considerable concern among devotees, religious scholars and various socio-cultural organisations.” He emphasised that the nomenclature occupies a unique place in the faith and consciousness of countless devotees.
He expressed confidence in Adhikari’s understanding of Jagannath heritage and the sentiments of the Odia people, urging the West Bengal government to adopt an alternative name, such as “Shri Jagannath Temple, Digha,” by dropping the suffix “Dham.”
“I also recall your consistent understanding and support for the sentiments of the people of Odisha on matters concerning the rich heritage of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath. Given your deep appreciation of this issue and your present responsibility as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, I am confident that you will appreciate the concerns being expressed by devotees and stakeholders.”
Such a step, Majhi noted, would be widely appreciated by devotees and help strengthen the longstanding bonds of goodwill, cultural affinity, and mutual respect between the people of the two neighbouring states. He sought Adhikari’s personal intervention for a positive resolution aligned with the sentiments of Jagannath devotees.
This followed a letter from Puri MP Sambit Patra, requesting him to take up the matter with the West Bengal government.
The Odisha CM had also sent similar missive to the then CM Mamata Banerjee last year when the West Bengal government promoted the Digha temple using the “Jagannath Dham” with some materials even suggesting devotees “need not go to Puri.”
Background of the controversy
Devotees, religious scholars, and cultural organisations had also expressed concern over the naming of the relatively new shrine as “Digha Jagannath Dham.” Many argued that the term “Jagannath Dham” is exclusively and intrinsically tied to the historic 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, one of the four sacred Char Dhams of Hinduism, established by Adi Shankaracharya, and holds unparalleled spiritual, historical, and cultural significance for millions of devotees worldwide.
At the time, Mamata dismissed the controversy as an overreaction. “Why are they so angry just because we have built a Jagannath temple in Digha? Is it a crime to worship Lord Jagannath in West Bengal?” she asked responding to fierce protests from the BJP in both Bengal and Odisha.
The controversy also involved allegations over the use of sacred neem wood (Daru) and idol-making practices, which further inflamed sentiments. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has even explored legal protections for terms like “Jagannath Dham,” “Purushottam Dham,” and “Neelachal Dham” to safeguard the original temple’s heritage.
