Odisha's CM Appeals to West Bengal: Why the 'Jagannath Dham' Title Sparks Controversy

Chief Minister's Plea to West Bengal

In a recent development, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reached out to his counterpart in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, with a request to avoid labeling the newly inaugurated Jagannath temple in Digha as 'dham'.

The temple's inauguration by Banerjee last week, where she referred to it as 'Jagannath Dham', has ignited a debate.

In his correspondence, Majhi urged the West Bengal government to reconsider the use of the term 'Jagannath Dham' in all official communications and promotional materials related to the temple.

He expressed hope that the West Bengal administration would respect inter-state relations and cultural sensitivities, addressing the concerns raised by Odisha.

This letter follows the temple's inauguration on April 30 in Digha, a coastal resort town in Purba Medinipur district.

Majhi emphasized that the Shree Jagannath Dham in Puri is one of Hinduism's four sacred Dhams, holding immense religious and cultural importance for both Odias and devotees worldwide.

He pointed out that the title 'Jagannath Dham' is uniquely tied to Puri, and its application to any other temple could offend the sentiments of countless pilgrims and dilute the heritage of the original Dham.

Odisha's Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, indicated that the state would formally request the West Bengal government to retract the 'dham' designation from the Digha temple.

He warned that if the request is ignored, legal action may be pursued.

Additionally, the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Dibyasingha Deb, has also called on West Bengal authorities to refrain from using the term 'dham'.