Digha Jagannath Temple Row: A storm of controversy has erupted between Odisha and West Bengal following the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple in Digha on April 30, 2025. The temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, was meant to be a spiritual and tourism landmark for West Bengal. However, its designation as “Jagannath Dham” and the rituals associated with its consecration have ignited outrage in Odisha, where the historic 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri holds unparalleled religious significance.
Odisha’s Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, has written to Puri Shri Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, demanding a thorough internal investigation. The letter highlights three primary concerns: the naming of the Digha temple as “Jagannath Dham,” the participation of Puri temple sevayats (priests) in the Digha consecration ceremony, and the use of “Daru Katha” (sacred wood traditionally used for Puri’s deities) to craft the idols in Digha. Harichandan stated that these actions have deeply hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannath’s devotees and the 4.5 crore people of Odisha, warning that those found guilty could face punishment.
The Digha temple, built on 22 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore by the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The ceremony included the prana pratishtha (consecration) of idols of Jagannath and Radha Krishna, performed by ISKCON devotees. While West Bengal has promoted the temple as a cultural and tourist attraction, Odisha sees it as a direct affront to Puri’s spiritual legacy. Promotional material suggesting that devotees “need not go to Puri to see Jagannath Dham” has further fueled the controversy, with many in Odisha accusing West Bengal of undermining the sanctity of the Puri temple, one of Hinduism’s four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites.
Sudarsan Pattnaik, an internationally acclaimed sand artist and Padma Shri awardee from Odisha, echoed these sentiments in a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. “According to our sacred scriptures, there exists only one Jagannath Dham, which is located in Puri. Associating any other temple with this title may lead to confusion and contradict long-standing spiritual and Hindu cultural traditions,” Pattnaik wrote. He urged the Odisha government to engage diplomatically with West Bengal to resolve the issue and, if necessary, seek rectification.
There are only four Dhams in India and the #JagannathDham at Puri is one of them.
The temple inaugurated in Digha cannot be a #JagannathDham. So My humble request to Hon’ble CM @MamataOfficial, please immediately order not to call it as Jagannath Dham as it hurts the sentiments… pic.twitter.com/RmAzKe1tUC— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) May 2, 2025
Religious scholars and servitors in Odisha have also voiced strong objections. The term “Dham” holds profound significance in Hindu theology, reserved for the four primary pilgrimage sites—Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameswaram, and Puri—established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Calling the Digha temple “Jagannath Dham” is seen as a misrepresentation that could mislead devotees and dilute Puri’s unique identity. The involvement of Puri sevayats and the use of Daru Katha have further deepened the sense of betrayal, as these practices are considered exclusive to the Puri temple’s traditions.
On the other side, West Bengal has defended the Digha temple as a tourism initiative aimed at boosting the coastal town’s appeal. The Digha-Shankarpur Development Authority provided the land for the project, and the temple’s architecture, a replica of the Puri temple, was intended to attract devotees and tourists alike. However, the promotional slogans and naming have struck a nerve in Odisha, turning what was meant to be a unifying spiritual project into a divisive cultural and political issue.
As tensions continue to simmer, the controversy underscores the deep emotional and spiritual connection that Odisha has with the Jagannath Temple in Puri, a symbol of the state’s cultural identity.
Whether diplomatic engagement between the two states will resolve the issue remains to be seen, but for now, the Digha Jagannath Temple row has exposed the delicate balance between cultural reverence and regional ambitions.
