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Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Digha's Jagannath Dham opens, Mamata prays for ‘global peace'
A wave of spiritual fervor swept across the seaside town of Digha on Wednesday, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the newly built Jagannath Dham, a replica of the iconic Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri, on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Trithiya. Located around 350 kilometres from the Puri Temple, the newly constructed Jagannath Dham in Digha is built on a sprawling 24-acre plot, with an investment of nearly Rs 250 crore. The temple's consecration ceremony unfolded amid religious rituals and cultural performances, while sanctified water from various revered pilgrimage sites across the country was brought to Digha for rituals and the anointing of the deities involved 108 diverse materials. Following this, the devotees got their first glimpse of Lord Jagannath, enshrined within the temple's 'Garbhagriha'. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, visibly moved by the spiritual atmosphere, performed the aarati, invoking the blessings of Lord Jagannath upon 'Ma, Mati, Manush' – her cherished representation of the people of Bengal. 'May the soil of Bengal be blessed by the touch of the feet of the Lord, Lord Sri Sri Jagannathdev,' CM Banerjee prayed, wishing for global peace. Addressing the gathering, the chief minister thanked the artisans, engineers, and workers who dedicated three years to realising this monumental project. 'I would like to thank all those who have come here for the inaugural programme. People from all religions have come here,' she said. Mamata Banerjee dedicated the new Jagannath Dham to 'Maa-Mati-Manush,' and expressed hope that, 'In the coming years, the temple would evolve as a major pilgrimage site.' CM Banerjee had on Tuesday said, 'Today when they (priests) asked me about my gotra, I told them I do not use my own gotra while offering puja. I offer puja using the 'Ma Mati Manush' gotra. I want them (Ma, Mati and Manush) to remain happy.' Meanwhile, the CM is planning to hold an annual 'Ratha Yatra' in Digha, further solidifying the town's emergence as a significant pilgrimage and tourism hub. Political leaders, prominent figures from West Bengal's music and film industry alongside spiritual leaders from Puri's Jagannath Temple, ISKCON, Adyapeath Mandir, Dakshineswar, and Belur Math, as well as those representing various faiths were also present at the inauguration. The Digha Dham showcases the traditional Kalinga architectural style. Built using red sandstone, sourced from Bansi Paharpur from Rajasthan, the structure incorporates key features like the — Singhadwar, Byaghradwar, Hastidwar, and Ashwadwar — welcoming devotees from all directions. The temple complex houses a dedicated shrine for Goddess Lakshmi and a Bhogshala, where sacred offerings will be prepared for Lord Jagannath. 'I had planned my visit to Digha in advance,…when I came here it was totally transformed. Today we also got darshan of Jagannath, it reminded me of my Puri trip..,' said one of the devotees Purnima Das Choudhury.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Time of India
Bengal CM Mamata inaugurates Jagannath Temple in Digha
A new Jagannath Temple was inaugurated in Digha on Wednesday by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The opening coincided with Akshay Trithiya, a day considered auspicious. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday inaugurated the newly built Jagannath Temple in the sea resort town of Digha on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Trithiya. Banerjee thanked the workers and engineers who built the structure in three years."I would like to thank all those who have come here for the inaugural programme. People from all religions have come here," she chief minister said that in the coming years, the temple would evolve as a major pilgrimage site.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Two groups of Puri servitors ask members to stay away from Digha Jagannath temple rituals
Puri, Two major associations of servitors of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri on Tuesday asked its members not to take part in the inaugural rituals at the newly-constructed shrine in West Bengal's Digha. The consecration ceremony of the Jagannath temple in the seaside town of Digha will be held on the auspicious occasion of the 'Akshay Trithiya' on Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Digha temple, built by the West Bengal government, is a replica of the shrine in Puri, located around 350 km away. It has been built on a 24-acre plot at a cost of nearly ₹250 crore. The Suar Mahasuar Nijog and Puspalaka Nijog have asked their members to stay away from the consecration ceremony or face a boycott at the Puri temple. While members of the Suar Mahasuar Nijog prepare food at the Puri temple, the Puspalak Nijog members decorate the sibling deities of Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath. "We welcome the new Jagannath temple in Digha. There is no bar on servitors visiting the Digha temple, but they cannot cook there," said Padmanava Mahasuar, the president of the Suar Mahasuar Nijog. He said there are hundreds of Jagannath temples across the country, but the rituals of the shrine in Puri are based on scriptures. "The Puri temple is mentioned in mythology because Lord Vishnu have food here. Therefore, the 'Suars' and 'Mahasuars' have a special place in the shrine. They are not mere cook, but blessed ones dedicated to the service of the Lord," he said. "They should not cook in other places like catering services," he added. Cautioning its members against participating in rituals at the Digha temple, Puspalaka Nijog's secretary Harekrushna Singhari said, "Any member found defying the order will face strict action." Sudarshan Pujapanda, who performs pujas at the Puri temple, also denounced the idea of servitors performing rituals at the Digha temple. "We should uphold the pride of being the servitors of Shree Jagannath Dham. The servitors here are not on anyone's payroll, but are dedicated to the service of the lord. They perform rituals as part of devotion and dedication to the Maha Vishnu, who is worshipped in the form of Lord Jagannath," he said. Speaking to PTI over the phone, Rajesh Daitapati of the Daitapati Nijog said, "About 50 servitors from Puri have gone to Digha on the invitation of the Digha Jagannath Temple's trust board. They will take part in the inauguration of the temple." However, he did not clarify if any members of the Suar Mahasuar and Pushpalak Nijogs had gone to Digha. Daitapati Nijog is responsible for some rituals during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. Among them is carrying the idols of the deities to their chariots. A senior official of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration said, "If some servitors are going to perform rituals in Digha, it is their conscience. The administration has no role in interfering with the procedures of other temples. Our priority is to maintain age-old rituals in Puri." Lakhs of devotees from West Bengal visit the Jagannath temple in Puri every year. The day-to-day activities of the Digha temple will be managed by ISKCON.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
As Mamata Banerjee preps for Jagannath Temple inauguration in Digha, BJP takes a swipe
KOLKATA: As West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee participated in a mahayajna ahead of the formal inauguration of a Jagannath Temple in East Midnapore district, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked her outreach to Hindus and announced its plan to start a campaign to repair temples in the state's Murshidabad. The yagya, a traditional fire ritual, was held on Tuesday and the idols of the deities will be consecrated on Wednesday. 'This (Jagannath Temple in Digha) will become an international destination of tourism. It is the pride of Bengal and the country. It has beautiful architecture. Servitors from Jagannath Temple in Puri and priests and monks from various other temples and organisations, including Dakshineshwar Kali Temple and ISKCON, have come,' Banerjee told reporters in Digha. The newly-built Jagannath Temple, a replica of the 12th-century shrine in Puri, is scheduled to be inaugurated on April 30 on the auspicious occasion of the 'Akshay Trithiya'. It is located in Digha, a popular beach destination 200 km southeast of Kolkata. The temple has been built on 24 acres of land using red sandstone quarried from Bansi Paharpur in Rajasthan. Banerjee said the programme will start at 2:30pm on Wednesday and the doors will open at 3:00 pm. 'After that, the temple will be opened to the general public. People from every religion can visit the temple,' Banerjee said on Tuesday, according to news agency ANI. She declined to comment on the BJP's criticism. Or the plan announced by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari to rebuild temples in Murshidabad district, where the party won 2 of the 76 assembly seats in 2021. The remaining 74 are with the ruling Trinamool Congress. The TMC controls all three Lok Sabha seats in Murshidabad. Communal violence rocked the Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad from April 8 to 12 when protests against the newly enforced Waqf (Amendment) Act led to rioting. The violence claimed three lives. Haragobindo Das, 72, and his son Chandan Das, 40, were hacked to death by a mob at Jafrabad village in Samserganj. The third person, Ezaz Ahmed, 25, was killed in firing by security forces. BJP legislator and leader of the opposition in the assembly Suvendu Adhikari said the BJP would start work on renovation and repair of temples damaged during riots in Murshidabad on Wednesday. 'As promised, on 30th April 2025, i.e tomorrow, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, we will begin the process of rebuilding and renovating the Hindu temples damaged by the jihadist attacks in Murshidabad district,' Adhikari, said in a post on X on Tuesday. BJP legislator Agnimitra Paul said the chief minister was trying to mislead people. 'There is only one Jagannath Temple and that is in Puri. She is trying to fool the Hindus saying that this is Jagannath Dham. On paper it is being shown as a cultural centre. This is her vote bank politics. No government can construct a temple, a mosque or a gurudwara. Hindus were hacked during Murshidabad riots and their houses and shops were set on fire. Banerjee didn't have the time to visit the relief camps where the affected Hindu families were staying. Now she is making a skywalk to Kalighat Temple and inaugurating a temple in Digha,' Paul said. TMC state spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya hit back at the BJP. 'The BJP had become anti-Bengal while opposing Mamata Banerjee. Now they have become anti-Jagannath Dev. Trains to Digha have been cancelled. They are calling the Jagannath Dham, a cultural centre. They want Hindus to follow a certain path. According to the BJP one can't become a Hindu if he worships the deity of his choice. Bengal will not accept this,' said
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Mamata to be present at ‘Maha Yajna' in Digha's Jagannath Temple, day ahead of inauguration
Digha , Arrangements are in place for the 'Maha Yajna' on Tuesday evening at the newly built Jagannath Temple in West Bengal's seaside tourist town of Digha, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will take part in the rituals, officials said. The Jagannath Temple, a replica of the 12th-century shrine in Puri, is scheduled to be inaugurated on Wednesday on the auspicious occasion of the 'Akshay Trithiya'. Digha is around 350 km from Puri. "The CM will participate in the 'Maha Yajna' at the temple. There will a number of rituals during the puja,' an official at the Chief Minister's Office told PTI. At the 'Maha Yajna', around 100 quintals of 'aam kath' and 'bael kath' , and two quintals of ghee will be used, another official said. On Wednesday, the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the idols of the deities will take place, he said. Sacred water from various pilgrimage destinations has already been brought to the temple for the rituals, the official said. Devotees visiting the temple during its inauguration on Wednesday will be given 'gamchas' to protect the body from heat, officials said. Built on around 24 acres of land using red sandstone quarried from Bansi Paharpur in Rajasthan, the Jagannath Temple, also known as 'Jagannath Dham', is an "architectural marvel, a mixture of intricate carvings and traditional design', they said. Banerjee had on Monday said the temple will serve as a place of confluence of people for the 'next several thousand years'. "This temple will definitely add a new feather to the state's cap. Digha will grow into an international tourist attraction. This will serve as a place of harmony," she had said. "Because of the sea, Digha has a special charm. Now, if it becomes a place of pilgrimage, more tourists will come. I think the sculptors have done a splendid job," she said. The 'Jagannath Dham' has been developed by the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation at a cost of nearly ₹250 crore. The day-to-day activities of the temple will be managed by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness . The construction of the temple started in 2022, after Banerjee announced the project in 2018.
