Bhubaneswar: Odisha has raised a formal objection to the use of the title “Jagannath Dham” for the newly built Jagannath temple at Digha in West Bengal, saying the expression is deeply linked with the sacred identity of Puri. The development comes amid continuing concern among devotees, servitors and cultural groups over the naming of the Digha shrine.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has written to the West Bengal government, requesting that the word “Dham” be removed from the nomenclature of the temple complex in Digha. The Odisha government has argued that Puri is universally revered as Shree Jagannath Dham and that using the same title for another temple may create confusion among devotees.
The issue has been sensitive in Odisha since the inauguration of the Digha Jagannath temple. Many devotees and religious voices have maintained that Puri holds a unique place in the Jagannath tradition and is one of the most important pilgrimage centres in India. They have said that no other shrine should be projected in a manner that dilutes the historic and spiritual significance of the Puri temple.
The West Bengal government has reportedly agreed to remove the word “Dham” from the Digha temple’s name. The move is being seen as an attempt to respect the sentiments of Lord Jagannath devotees and avoid further escalation between the two neighbouring states.
The controversy had earlier drawn reactions from Odia organisations and members of the Jagannath devotee community, who claimed that the use of “Jagannath Dham” for Digha was inappropriate. The matter also carried political importance, as Lord Jagannath and the Puri temple are closely tied to Odisha’s cultural identity.
For Odisha, the concern is not about the construction of a Jagannath temple outside the state, but about the use of a title that devotees associate exclusively with Puri. The state government’s intervention has therefore focused on preserving religious tradition and preventing public misunderstanding.
With Bengal now reportedly agreeing to change the name, the dispute may move towards resolution. However, the episode has once again highlighted how strongly the identity of Lord Jagannath and Puri Dham is rooted in the faith, emotion and cultural consciousness of Odisha.