Why Odisha govt wants to trademark Jagannath terminologies
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is likely to find some political satisfaction in the Odisha government's move to secure trademark rights over key religious terms associated with the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri. The decision comes on the heels of a sharp controversy over the naming of a new temple in West Bengal's Digha as Jagannath Dham—a row that Adhikari, who is leader of the Opposition in the Bengal legislative assembly, had vocally amplified, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of 'cultural appropriation'.In a significant cultural and legal counter-move, the Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government in Odisha has formally initiated steps to trademark a cluster of terms intrinsically tied to Jagannath worship and the spiritual geography of Puri. These include 'Jagannath Dham', 'Shree Mandira', 'Purushottam Kshetra', 'Neelachal Dham', 'Bada Danda', 'Mahaprasad' and 'Neela Chakra'.advertisementThe development not only strengthens Odisha's cultural sovereignty over the Jagannath tradition but also raises the possibility of legal friction with the Bengal government, which has thus far remained silent on Odisha's objections.Arabinda Padhee, chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), confirmed the decision and said the process of finalising the list of protected terms was underway. 'Once we obtain trademark rights, any unauthorised use of these expressions will be legally actionable,' he stated.
According to Padhee, these names were not mere labels but sacred expressions deeply embedded in the liturgy, history and ritual fabric of the Jagannath tradition, many of them traceable to ancient Hindu scriptures.The trigger was the inauguration last month of the Digha Jagannath temple by Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who described the site as 'Jagannath Dham'. This provoked sharp reactions in Odisha, with the state accusing Bengal of diminishing the religious and cultural sanctity of the original Jagannath Dham in Puri—one of the 'Char Dhams' in Hinduism.advertisement'The use of 'Jagannath Dham' in any context other than Puri undermines centuries of sacred tradition,' said an official from SJTA.In what may be viewed as both a religious and political escalation, Majhi had written to Mamata, seeking an explanation and urging restraint. In fact, one of the servitors from the Puri temple, who had led the consecration rituals in Digha, and was also accused of supplying unused wood from Nabakalebar for the deities in the new temple, was suspended.The move to trademark temple terminology is now being steered through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Union ministry of commerce and industry. The SJTA is compiling archival documents, historical records and scriptural evidence to support their application, which aims to protect the exclusivity of the Jagannath tradition from unauthorised usage or commodification.The plan has won the support of Odisha's religious scholars, cultural historians and even the titular Maharaj of Puri, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, who chairs the Jagannath Temple Managing Committee.In parallel with this cultural assertion, preparations for the grand Rath Yatra, scheduled for June 27, are on in full swing. At a high-level meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, several operational decisions were taken to ensure the smooth execution of the annual chariot festival. These included the formation of dedicated 'Pahandi Dalas' (teams responsible for carrying idols onto the chariots), the enforcement of restrictions on non-servitors accessing chariots, and a complete ban on mobile phones atop the structures.advertisementThe committee also reviewed security measures around the sacred Ratna Bhandar (the temple's treasury), and debated the relocation of the donation box (Hundi) to prevent crowding within the sanctum sanctorum. Furthermore, a proposal will be sent to the urban development department to limit the height of buildings around the Shree Mandir and Gundicha Temple, aiming to preserve ritual purity and visual sanctity.With the Rath Yatra approaching, emotions around Lord Jagannath and his place in India's spiritual landscape are running high. Odisha's decision to trademark sacred terminology is not merely about legal protection; it is an assertion of identity in the face of what is seen as cultural overreach by a neighbouring state. The controversy has also offered Adhikari a potent narrative—one that allows him to accuse the Bengal government of not just political opportunism but of desecrating centuries-old spiritual heritage.Subscribe to India Today MagazineTrending Reel
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