Puri: In the wake of a raging controversy over a new shrine at Digha in West Bengal, a demand to rename the pilgrim town of Puri as ‘Jagannath Dham’ is gaining momentum in Odisha.
Noted rights activist Jayanta Kumar Das has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to officially rename Puri as ‘Jagannath Dham’ in the interest of Sanatan Dharma, tourism and cultural identity.
In a letter to Modi, he said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, with the apparent support of certain irresponsible and uninformed Daitapati servitors of Puri like Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, referred to the newly constructed temple at Digha as “Digna Jagannath Dham.”
“This naming not only undermines the unparalleled sanctity of the ancient and original JAGANNATH DHAM in Puri, Odisha, but also creates a dangerous precedent that may lead to identity distortion, public confusion, and potential disrespect to the sacred geography of Sanatan Dharma,” Das said in his letter, copy of which was released to the media on Sunday.
Describing Puri as one of the four Dhams of Sanatan Dharma, he said the pilgrim town is globally revered as the eternal abode of Lord Jagannath, a principal deity in Hinduism. The annual Rath Yatra draws millions of devotees from across the world and is deeply embedded in India’s spiritual and cultural consciousness. “To equate or dilute this heritage by allowing any other place to adopt the same nomenclature without religious and historical legitimacy is an affront to the sentiments of millions of Hindu,” the rights activist said.
Moreover, such misnaming may lead to practical problems for pilgrims and tourists. With the proliferation of digital platforms and online searches, the name “Jagannath Dham” being associated with multiple places may confuse devotees, misdirect tourism, and hurt the local economy of Puri, which is primarily sustained by religious tourism. It is also likely to dilute Puri’s spiritual prominence in both national and international perception.
From the standpoint of Article 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution, the followers of Sanatan Dharma have the fundamental right to preserve and propagate their religion and its sacred sites. Protecting the identity of Puri as the true “JAGANNATH DHAM” is intrinsic to that right. The state has a constitutional duty to ensure that such religious identities are not compromised or manipulated for political or regional gain.
“In light of the above, I respectfully urge the Union Government, in consultation with the Government of Odisha, to officially rename “PURI” as “JAGANNATH DHAM” to preserve its unique spiritual identity, uphold the religious sentiments of millions, avoid future confusion, and strengthen India’s cultural tourism infrastructure,” said Das.
This symbolic yet significant move would serve as a powerful reaffirmation of India’s commitment to its spiritual heritage, unity in diversity, and the constitutional values that protect religious harmony and cultural continuity, he added.