Odisha CM Requests Removal of 'Dham' from West Bengal's Jagannath Temple Name

Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Chara Manjhi has formally requested West Bengal's CM Suvendu Adhikari to eliminate the term 'Dham' from the name of the Jagannath Temple in Digha. This appeal stems from concerns that the term is closely tied to the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri, which holds significant spiritual and cultural importance. Manjhi's letter highlights the potential hurt to the sentiments of millions of devotees and calls for an alternative name to preserve the temple's identity. Adhikari has acknowledged these concerns and agreed to the proposed name change, ensuring the temple's name will reflect its unique heritage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 9, 2026, 18:41 IST

Odisha Chief Minister's Appeal

Mohan Chara Manjhi, the Chief Minister of Odisha, has reached out to his West Bengal counterpart, Suvendu Adhikari, urging the removal of the term 'Dham' from the name of the Jagannath Temple complex in Digha. He emphasized that this term is closely associated with the sacred Jagannath Temple located in Puri.

In his correspondence, Manjhi expressed that the use of the name 'Digha Jagannath Dham' has hurt the religious sentiments of millions of devotees and raised concerns among scholars and socio-cultural organizations. He highlighted the significant spiritual, historical, and cultural importance of the Jagannath Dham, as it refers to the temple in Puri, one of the four revered pilgrimage sites in Hinduism.

Manjhi requested the West Bengal government to adopt an alternative name such as 'Shri Jagannath Temple, Digha' to preserve the sanctity and unique identity of Puri's Jagannath Dham.

Context of the Letter

This letter follows a change in government in West Bengal. Manjhi expressed confidence that Adhikari would understand the concerns raised by devotees and stakeholders, referencing Adhikari's previous support on issues related to the legacy of Lord Jagannath.

Suvendu Adhikari has accepted the proposal to remove the term 'Dham' from the name of the Jagannath Temple complex in Digha. This decision comes after concerns were raised by Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Chara Manjhi and various religious leaders, who argued that the term 'Jagannath Dham' is specifically linked to Puri.

The issue has also garnered support from Sambit Patra, a Member of Parliament from Puri, who stated that while there is no objection to the construction of Jagannath temples in other parts of the country, using the term 'Dham' for the Digha temple is inappropriate. Patra remarked, 'Jagannath Dham is one of the four sacred sites. You cannot play with the sentiments of the devotees.' He also noted that the Odisha government had previously raised this issue.

Response from Suvendu Adhikari

In response to the developments, Suvendu Adhikari acknowledged the concerns raised by Manjhi and Patra. He mentioned that the previous government in West Bengal had named the facility the Jagannath Dham Cultural Center, but assured that the term 'Dham' would be removed from the temple's name.