Odisha CM urges Bengal to drop ‘Jagannath Dham’ name for Digha temple

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has strongly objected to the West Bengal government’s decision to name the newly inaugurated Shree Jagannath Temple in Digha as ‘Jagannath Dham’.
His concerns add to the growing controversy surrounding the temple’s official naming.
In a formal letter addressed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Majhi urged the Bengal administration to reconsider the use of the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ for the Digha temple. He requested that the name not be used in any official documents, public communications, or promotional campaigns.
“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. The name ‘Jagannath Dham’ holds a unique and sacrosanct identity linked to Puri, and its usage in reference to any other temple or location hurts the sentiments and emotions of millions of pilgrims, devotees, and the general public, besides diluting the distinct heritage of Shree Jagannath Dham, Puri,” the letter read.
Majhi emphasized the spiritual and cultural importance of the original Shree Jagannath Dham in Puri, which is recognized as one of the Char Dhams—four sacred pilgrimage sites in Hinduism.
He noted that the temple holds immense religious significance for the people of Odisha and for millions of devotees across India and abroad.

“The name ‘Jagannath Dham’ is sacredly and uniquely tied to Puri,” Majhi stated in his letter.
“While we acknowledge and appreciate the devotion towards Lord Jagannath across regions, 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,” the letter read further.
“Using this name for another temple or location risks offending the sentiments of countless pilgrims and devotees and undermines the unique heritage and identity of Puri’s Shree Jagannath Dham.”
He cautioned that it may deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Odisha.