'Jagannath Dham' Row Pits West Bengal Against Odisha Over Temple Legacy
New Delhi:
The inauguration of a new Jagannath temple in Digha has become the centre of a controversy between eastern neighbours Odisha and West Bengal. At the core of the dispute is the West Bengal government's reference to the temple as "Jagannath Dham," a term historically and scripturally reserved for the 12th-century Puri temple, considered one of the four primary pilgrimage sites of Hinduism.
The naming has been met with strong objections from religious scholars, priests and servitors in Odisha, who argue that the use of the title "Dham" implies a status and sanctity that can neither be replicated nor claimed without distorting centuries of tradition.
Built over an area of 22 acres and at an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore, the Digha temple is being projected as both a religious and tourist destination. Slogans such as "No need to go to Puri to see Jagannath Dham and the sea" have also surfaced, triggering sharp responses.
Historic Title Sparks Modern Dispute
The term "Dham" is not a mere honorific in Hindu theology. Traditionally, it refers to sacred sites associated with Hinduism. Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century philosopher and theologian designated Puri as one of the four "Dhams" of India, with the others being Badrinath, Dwarka, and Rameswaram. These are not interchangeable labels.
Sudarsan Pattnaik, the internationally acclaimed sand artist and a Padma Shri awardee from Odisha, in a letter addressed to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, expressed concern that calling the Digha temple a "Jagannath Dham" would mislead devotees and disrespect the unique identity of the Puri shrine.
"This statement has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees worldwide," Mr Pattnaik wrote. "According to our sacred scriptures, there exists only one Jagannath Dham, which is located in Puri. Associating any other temple with the title may lead to confusion and contradict long-standing spiritual and Hindu cultural traditions."
The artist has urged the Odisha government to engage with its West Bengal counterpart to clarify the matter and, if necessary, seek rectification. Copies of the letter have also been sent to Odisha's Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan.
The official promotional materials issued by the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government have further fanned the flames. One such advertisement included an image closely resembling the 'Neelachakra' with 'Bana', an emblem that has long been associated exclusively with the Puri temple.
Critics argue that this move points to appropriation by the Bengal government that blurs the distinctions between the two sites.
Political Undercurrents
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has issued an open letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi, demanding clarity on whether the new structure is a temple or a cultural centre. Mr Adhikari cited tender documents from the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), which describe the site as "Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra," not a temple.
"If this is a cultural centre, why is the public being invited to a temple inauguration?" he asked. "The invitation card must clearly state what is being inaugurated, a temple or a centre."
In a previous statement in late 2023, Mr Adhikari also questioned the legality of using public funds for religious infrastructure, citing the constitutional separation of religion and state. He pointed to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, constructed entirely through public donations under an independent trust.
Political commentators have also pointed out that the decision to inaugurate such a prominent temple in a location like Digha, just a few hours from Kolkata, is not only religiously motivated but carries political implications. With assembly elections in West Bengal approaching, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is keen to broaden its appeal among Hindu voters, given constant allegations by the BJP that Ms Banerjee's party engages in appeasement politics.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Andhra Deputy CM Pawan extends Rs 25 lakh aid to slain jawan's kin
ANANTAPUR: Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena chief Konidala Pawan Kalyan kept his promise made during the martyred Jawan Murali Naik's funeral and extended financial aid of Rs 25 lakh from his own funds to the family members on Saturday. Jana Sena MLAs Arani Srinivasulu (Tirupati), Nimmala Jayakrishna (Palakonda), Anantapur-Hindupur Urban Development Authority (AHUDA) Chairman TC Varun, along with several other key Jana Sena leaders, visited Murali Naik's hometown Kalli Thanda in Gorantla mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district and paid floral tributes to the slain jawan's portrait. Later, the MLAs handed over the cheque to Murali Naik's parents and enquired about their well-being. On the occasion, the Jana Sena MLAs assured that the coalition government will stand by the jawan's family and told Murali's parents, Jyothibai and Sriram Nayak, that the entire nation is indebted to them, whose son had made the supreme sacrifice while defending the country.
Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Alcohol industry asks Maharashtra govt to rethink excise duty hike, calls for deliberations
Expressing concern over the increase in the excise duty on Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) by up to 50 per cent by the Maharashtra government, the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), the apex body of the Indian Alcoholic Beverage Industry, has urged the state government to reconsider the hike and hold deliberations with all stakeholders immediately. Sources in the excise department said the industry body was trying to protect its interest, but declined to comment on any possibility of a rollback. The state cabinet on Tuesday approved a hike in excise duty on IMFL, country liquor, and imported alcohol. The decision is expected to raise the state's annual excise collection by approximately Rs 14,000 crore as the prices of IMFL and premium foreign liquor brands are likely to increase by 50-80 per cent. The CIABC claimed that while the intent behind the proposed hike may be to enhance revenue collections by Rs 14,000 crore, the actual outcome may be contrary–driven by declining sales, rising illicit trade, and border leakages. The long-term impact could be deeply detrimental, not only for industry and employment, but also for public safety and overall state revenues. Stating that the CIABC had already written to the Maharashtra government urging it to start a consultative process with all stakeholders before releasing any final gazette notification, Anant S Iyer, Director-General, CIABC, said the hike in excise duty was projected to push maximum retail prices up by as much as 85 per cent, a step that could severely disrupt the market, erode the competitiveness of national brands, and jeopardise the availability of legitimate alcoholic beverages in the state. 'Such an unprecedented escalation in duties poses a serious deterrence to consumer access of established and reputed brands, compelling a shift toward lower-category products. This poses a serious threat to the stability of the IMFL industry in the state…such a move will have a far-reaching adverse impact,' Iyer said. He warned that higher MRPs often create a vacuum filled by illegal operators. The IMFL industry contributes approximately 60 per cent of the total excise revenue of the state.
New Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Prove ‘Talliki Vandanam' allegation or resign as MLA: Savitha to Jagan
VIJAYAWADA: BC Welfare Minister S Savitha has challenged YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, stating that she is willing to resign from her Ministerial post and MLA seat if they can prove their allegations that funds from the Talliki Vandanam scheme are being misappropriated by HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh. Speaking at the TDP headquarters in Mangalagiri on Saturday, Savitha questioned whether Jagan would also resign from his Pulivendula MLA post if the claims were unproven. Highlighting the success of the scheme, she emphasised that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had fulfilled his promise of providing Talliki Vandanam financial assistance to mothers without restricting benefits to a single student per family. 'Our government honoured its commitment, and both mothers and students are happy. A total of Rs 8,745 crore is being deposited into the accounts of mothers under Talliki Vandanam. The efforts of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and HRD Minister Lokesh were instrumental in implementing the scheme,' she added.
