In a grand ceremony steeped in devotion and cultural pride, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was accorded a magnificent public felicitation at Puri Town Hall on Monday for his decisive intervention that led to the removal of the word “Dham” from the Jagannath Temple in Digha, West Bengal.
The event, organised by Shree Jagannath Bhakta Seva Sansthan, saw thousands of devotees, servitors (sevayats), saints, and spiritual leaders gather to honour the Chief Minister. The gathering celebrated Majhi’s successful efforts in safeguarding the unique spiritual status of Puri as the one and only Sri Jagannath Dham.
Addressing the gathering, CM Majhi declared with conviction, “According to scriptures and Sanatan tradition, Puri alone is the sacred Dham of Lord Jagannath in the entire world. No other place can claim this title.” He assured the audience that his government would act as a vigilant guardian of Jagannath culture, its traditions, and the classical rituals of the Srimandir.
The controversy erupted when the Digha temple in West Bengal used the term “Dham,” which many Odias viewed as an encroachment on Puri’s exclusive spiritual identity. The Odisha government, through Puri MP Sambit Patra, engaged directly with newly elected West Bengal CM Subhendu Adhikari. In a swift and respectful response, the West Bengal government agreed to drop the word “Dham,” resolving the sensitive issue amicably and setting a positive example of inter-state cultural harmony.
CM Majhi further emphasised that in Odisha, the Chief Minister is not the real ruler — Lord Jagannath (Mahaprabhu) himself is the eternal King. “The chair of the Chief Minister is merely a medium for public service,” he said emotionally. He also highlighted key initiatives of his government, including opening all four gates of the Sri Mandir for devotees, the proposed audit of the Ratna Bhandar, and the Sri Jagannath Darshan Yojana that provides free darshan and Mahaprasad to the poor and senior citizens.
Puri MP Sambit Patra, who played a pivotal role in the diplomatic resolution, told the audience: “We welcome the temple in Digha, but its sanctity cannot come at the cost of diminishing Puri’s glory. The scriptures are clear — there is only one Dham.”
The ceremony was attended by several MLAs and MPs, including Dr Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Ashrit Pattanayak, Sunil Kumar Mohanty, Upasana Mohapatra, and Om Prakash Mishra, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Puri.
