Bhubaneswar: With Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) set to form the new government in West Bengal after its poll victory over Trinamool Congress, devotees of Lord Jagannath in Odisha are hopeful of the resolution of the row over the shrine in Digha.
Servitors, researchers and devotees now hope that the term ‘dham’ would be removed from the Lord’s temple in Digha by the new government in the neighbouring state.
Religious groups and others in Odisha have been expressing strong objection to the use of the term Jagannath Dham for the temple built in the coastal town of Digha in West Bengal.
They are of the view that title is spiritually and historically associated with the shrine in Puri, one of Hinduism’s four sacred ‘dhams’.
It may be noted that the Digha temple was inaugurated by outgoing West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee exactly a year back. She had also named it Jagannath Dham.
T
he issue triggered sharp reactions across Odisha. Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and several organisations accused the Mamata government of ignoring repeated appeals from devotees and religious scholars with the shrine’s naming. Dibyasingha Deb had also written to Mamata seeking for a name change. However, despite strong objections from many quarters, the name remained unchanged.
With the BJP coming to power in Bengal, many in Odisha believe the long-standing controversy would finally see a resolution. Leaders and Jagannath devotees want a swift name change, arguing that the name ‘Digha Jagannath Dham’ does not reflect the traditional and cultural sanctity of the revered Lord Jagannath.
They maintain that the Digha temple should only be referred to as ‘Jagannath Mandir,’ aligning with the proper religious naming conventions.
Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said the name of Lord Jagannath is revered globally. “Unfortunately, some people have drawn comparisons between Jagannath Dham and the Digha temple for political reasons. However, Mahaprabhu has already given his answer,” he said.
“We request the government to reconsider the name of the Digha Temple in West Bengal and make necessary change without delay,” said a Jagannath devotee.