Naming dispute over Digha Jagannath Temple sparks outcry from Odisha artist

Bhubaneswar, May 6: Renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the ongoing controversy over the naming of the newly inaugurated Jagannath temple in Digha, West Bengal, as ‘Jagannath Dham’.

Expressing deep concern over the reinstallation of the ‘Jagannath Dham’ signage at the temple, Pattnaik emphasized that the move has hurt the religious sentiments of millions of devotees of Lord Jagannath, especially those connected to the holy shrine in Puri, Odisha.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Pattnaik acknowledged the West Bengal government’s effort in constructing a temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, calling it a commendable initiative. However, he strongly objected to the use of the sacred term ‘Dham’, traditionally and scripturally associated solely with the Puri temple, one of the four cardinal ‘Char Dham’ pilgrimages in Hinduism. “Using this revered title for another location may lead to religious confusion and contradicts centuries-old spiritual traditions,” Pattnaik stated.

A former member of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, Pattnaik urged PM Modi to take necessary steps to protect and preserve the sanctity and cultural identity of the original Jagannath Dham in Puri.