Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has 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 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.
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.
“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.”
The Chief Minister also warned that such a naming decision could create confusion among devotees and diminish Puri’s historical and religious standing as the original seat of Lord Jagannath. He cautioned that it may deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Odisha.
