Bhubaneswar: Amidst the ongoing outcry over the West Bengal government’s use of the term “Jagannath Dham” for the newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has formally addressed the issue by penning a letter to his West Bengal counterpart, Mamata Banerjee.
In his communication, Chief Minister Shri Majhi conveyed the Odisha government’s “deep concern” regarding the naming of the Digha temple as “Jagannath Dham.”
“As you are well aware, Shree Jagannath Dham in Puri, Odisha, is one of the Char Dhams of Hinduism and holds unparalleled religious, spiritual, and cultural significance, not just for the people of Odisha, but for millions of devotees across India and the world,” Majhi stated in his letter, emphasizing the profound importance of the Puri Dham.
Highlighting the unique and sacrosanct identity of the name “Jagannath Dham” as being intrinsically linked to Puri, Shri Majhi asserted that using the term for any other temple or location “hurts the sentiment and emotion of millions of pilgrims, devotees, and the general public, besides diluting the distinct heritage of Shree Jagannath Dham, Puri.”
While acknowledging and appreciating the widespread devotion towards Lord Jagannath across various regions, the Odisha Chief Minister cautioned, “The use of the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ in official and promotional contexts for the Digha temple is likely to cause confusion among devotees, dilute the historical identity of Puri as the original and revered abode of the Lord, and hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Odisha.”
He earnestly urged the West Bengal government to reconsider the usage of the name “Jagannath Dham” in relation to the Digha temple and to refrain from using the term in its official naming, communication, and promotional materials.
Chief Minister Shri Majhi expressed his hope that the neighboring government would “uphold the spirit of inter-state respect and cultural sensitivity in this matter and take necessary steps to address Odisha’s concerns.”
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had reacted to the controversy, stating, “We respect the temple in Puri and we also respect Jagannath Dham. Kaali Temple and Gurdwaras are everywhere across the country. Temples are there in all places…Why is there so much anger on this issue?” Her remarks, however, appear to have done little to quell the concerns and objections raised by devotees and the Odisha government.
It is noteworthy that the Digha Jagannath Temple was inaugurated on April 30th by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, with Puri Daita Nijog President Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra in attendance. The West Bengal Government’s official documentation referring to the temple as “Jagannath Dham” immediately sparked widespread condemnation from Jagannath devotees globally, who view it as an attempt to dishonor the sanctity and unique identity of the Puri Jagannath Temple.
Chief Minister Shri Majhi’s letter marks a formal diplomatic effort by the Odisha Government to address this sensitive religious and cultural issue.