Bhubaneswar, June 9: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has urged the West Bengal government to remove the word “Dham” from the name of the Jagannath temple complex at Digha, stating that the term is intrinsically associated with the revered shrine of Lord Jagannath in Puri and holds immense religious, historical and cultural significance for millions of devotees.
In a letter addressed to senior West Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari, Majhi expressed concern over the naming of the temple complex as “Digha Jagannath Dham.” He said the nomenclature has sparked widespread concern among Jagannath devotees, religious scholars and socio-cultural organisations in Odisha and beyond.
The Chief Minister emphasized that Shree Jagannath Temple is one of the four sacred Char Dhams of India and that the title “Jagannath Dham” has been historically and spiritually linked to Puri for centuries. According to him, the designation occupies a unique place in the faith and consciousness of countless devotees and should remain exclusively associated with the holy shrine.
Majhi noted that preserving the sanctity and distinct identity of Puri’s Jagannath Dham is essential to respecting the sentiments of devotees. He expressed confidence that the concerns raised by various stakeholders would receive due consideration.
As an alternative, the Chief Minister suggested that the Digha shrine could be named “Shri Jagannath Temple, Digha,” without using the word “Dham.” He said such a step would be welcomed by devotees and would further strengthen the longstanding bonds of goodwill, cultural affinity and mutual respect shared by the people of Odisha and West Bengal.
The letter comes amid ongoing public debate in Odisha, where many religious and cultural organisations have maintained that the designation “Jagannath Dham” is uniquely linked to the centuries-old temple in Puri and should not be used for any other shrine.
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