Latest news with #KaliPuja
The Print
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
How a temple inauguration has set off an Odisha-Bengal slugfest & a holy power tussle in Puri
While Mamata, often criticised as a 'pro-Muslim leader' by her political rivals, appears to be making a calculated political move through the state-sponsored project, the new temple has ignited a tussle between the TMC and the BJP which govern West Bengal and Odisha, respectively. A consecration ceremony was held last Wednesday at the Digha temple in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress, in a major publicity push ahead of next year's assembly elections. New Delhi: The inauguration of a newly built Jagannath temple in West Bengal's Digha has stirred the pot in neighbouring Odisha, where influential groups of servitors from Puri's 12th-century Jagannath Temple are trading barbs over their involvement in the new shrine. Beneath what seems to be a political slugfest lies a power tussle among the servitors of the Puri temple, who are competing for positions in the new management committee of the Digha shrine, a popular tourist destination and pilgrimage. This marks the first time since the BJP came to power in Odisha that the management committee is being restructured by the government. Also Read: Divine diplomacy—how Jagannath shaped a millennium of Indian politics Fight over the name The BJP government in Odisha has criticised West Bengal's decision to name the new shrine 'Jagannath Dham'. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri also questioned a senior servitor who participated in the Digha temple's consecration. On Monday, Mamata pushed back, calling the critics of the Digha temple 'envious'. 'When Mamata Banerjee builds the Kalighat Skywalk and Dakshineswar Skywalk, then there is no question. When she does Kali Puja or Durga Puja, then there is no question. But now Jagannath Dham has hurt them (BJP)? They are saying I stole neem wood. My house has four neem trees, for their information. Ask them how many they need. I do not need to steal. The mother of thieves screams the loudest,' she told reporters in Murshidabad. She denied allegations that surplus neem wood from the Puri temple was used to craft the idols at Digha. Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan also clarified Monday that, following an inquiry by the SJTA, it was confirmed that no wood from Puri was used in the Digha temple. Under the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, out of 18 members of the management committee, seven are nominated by the state government for three-year terms. The seven nominated members include five from among the sevaks or servitors of the temple, one person attached with muktimandap (body of religious scholars) and another working with any Hindu religious or spiritual organisation. 'The process to constitute the new committee (at the Puri temple) is underway. The members of the various influential groups of sevaks are vying for the posts. Without the committee in place, even the annual budget of the temple cannot be sent for the government's approval. That explains the eruption of the controversy over the Digha temple. 'There is a competition among the sevaks to show loyalty to the government. On the other hand, those who participated at the Digha temple consecration ceremony were close to the previous government led by the BJD,' according to a senior member of a 'nijog', which is an association of sevaks. There are several such associations in Puri based on the services provided by their members including Daitapati Nijog (considered bodyguards of the deity), Suar Mahasuar Nijog (involved in preparing the mahaprasad), Pushpalak Nijog (decoration), Pratihari Nijog (guarding the deities). Batto Krishna, A panda at the Puri temple, told ThePrint that internal politics among the sevaks in many ways shaped the ongoing tussle between the two state governments. 'Sabka apna apna rajneeti hai (Everybody is serving their own political interest). The West Bengal administration had sent invites to many of us. Some like the secretary of the Daitapati Nijog Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra accepted and went to Digha. Some nijogs issued diktats that their members were not allowed to participate. It's an open secret that those who went had BJD leanings while those who didn't were trying to be in the BJP's good books,' said Batto Krishna, who is the secretary of the Pradhani Nijog. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the Suar Mahausar Nijog claimed that Mohapatra, who was questioned by the SJTA Monday, was close to the BJD under the Naveen Patnaik-led previous administration. 'The reverence for Jagannath Mahaprabhu is very high in Odisha. The ongoing process to form the next management committee has triggered a race among the members of the sevak associations to prove their loyalty to the new administration. That explains the ongoing political tussle to a large extent,' the member said. Meanwhile, Puri's titular king Gajapati Divyasingha Deb, also waded into the row Monday. Deb, who is the chairperson of the SJTA, claimed that the temple in West Bengal's Digha cannot be called 'Jagannath Dham'. He went on to cite scriptures to assert that only the Puri shrine qualifies to be a Dham. 'I wish to add here that the glory of Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu is most authentically and comprehensively expounded by Maharshi Veda Vyasa in 'Shree Purushottama-kshetra Mahatmyam' contained in the 'Vaishnava Khanda' of Skanda Purana. A plain reading of this scripture will leave no doubt that it is only Puri which can be called 'Shree Jagannatha Dham' and not any other place or temple because it is Puri which is the eternal holy abode of the Supreme Lord — Shree Purushottama-Jagannath,' he told reporters. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Jagannath temple Ratna Bhandar a monument to the legacy of those conquered throughout history
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Jealous of Bengal?' CM Mamata Banerjee hits out over temple row, attacks on Bengalis
KOLKATA/BEHRAMPORE: CM on Monday upped the ante against BJP-governed and other states, accusing Odisha of being 'jealous' and its residents of thrashing 'anyone speaking Bengali'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'They issued a notification asking people not to visit Digha's Jagannath temple. We all visit Puri. We do not ask so many questions. Why is this bothering them so much? Why so much jealousy?' the CM asked, referring to the regular posers from Odisha ministers and seniors since her inauguration of the Jagannath temple in Digha last week. 'Are you trying to say that I stole neem wood for Jagannath Dham? Mamata Banerjee will steal? I have not reached such a state. I have four neem trees in my backyard. Ask them how many they need,' Banerjee added, while reminding Odisha that the maximum number of devotees going to Puri's Jagannath temple was from Bengal. 'They asked Daitapati (Rajesh Daitapati, Puri temple's chief servitor and also a Digha temple trustee) from where he got the neem wood for the Digha temple. He has said that he procured it from somewhere else. No question was asked when I built a skywalk in Dakshineswar. No question was asked about the Kalighat skywalk. I perform Durga Puja and Kali Puja and there are no questions. But Jagannath Dham seems to have hit a raw point,' she said, asking Odisha 'not to behave like this'. 'I respect the Puri Jagannath Dham. Kali temples are found at many places across the country, so are Shiva temples. Any temple can exist anywhere. You never ask about temples when BJP does something. Why are they (BJP) so angry now?' the Bengal CM asked. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'I love Puri, I love Odisha. Why does it hurt them so much? RSS and BJP protest when I go to Puri. But Bengal supplies potatoes when your stocks run short. You seek engineers from us when a cyclone disrupts your power supply. The largest number of tourists going to Puri is from Bengal. What is the harm if we establish a Jagannath Dham in Digha?' CM Mamata Banerjee asked. Banerjee also questioned the rationale behind thrashing anyone speaking Bengali in Odisha and other BJP-governed states. 'Why are you attacking our people? Bengali-speaking people are being targeted in Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as well. You are attacking our migrant workers for speaking Bengali but we will not do the same. That is the difference between you and me,' the CM said. All four states — Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar — are governed by BJP with or without its allies. 'Over 1.5 crore migrant workers from diverse religions and regions have come to Bengal. We do not want such instances or misunderstandings. We have reached out to Odisha, Bihar and Rajasthan (another BJP-governed state) and our chief secretary is writing to the union home secretary. Our DGP has spoken to his Odisha counterpart. I would request Odisha, Rajasthan and Bihar to look into this. We hope good sense prevails,' she added.
Hans India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Mamata refutes charge of using neem wood from Puri
Murshidabad: Asserting that she doesn't 'need to steal', West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday rubbished as 'baseless' the allegations of using sacred neem wood from Puri's Jagannath temple to make the idols for the newly built Digha temple. She also expressed grave concern over reports of attacks on Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Odisha. Speaking to reporters in Murshidabad, Banerjee hit out at critics, asserting that her government had 'no reason to use stolen wood' and dismissed the controversy as a politically motivated ploy to malign her. 'Why would we use stolen neem wood? We have our sources of neem wood. These allegations are baseless and unacceptable,' Banerjee said. 'When Mamata Banerjee builds the Kalighat Skywalk and Dakshineswar Skywalk, then there is no question. When she does Kali Puja or Durga Puja, then there is no question. But now Jagannath Dham has hurt them (BJP)? They are saying I stole neem wood. My house has four neem trees, for their information. Ask them how many they need. I do not need to steal,' she said. The controversy erupted after the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri questioned a senior servitor over allegations that sacred leftover wood from the Puri shrine was used to craft idols for the newly inaugurated temple in Digha. The Digha temple project, backed by the West Bengal government, has been pitched as a major religious and tourism hub. Banerjee, however, dismissed the insinuation that her government or the temple project in Digha had anything to do with sacred wood from Odisha. 'Our idol was supposed to be made of marble. Many of us have Jagannath idols at home. I heard Daityapati was summoned, but he has clearly said what is being told is false,' Banerjee said. Taking a sharp swipe at her political opponents, Banerjee said, 'Why are they so angry just because we have built a Jagannath temple in Digha? Is it a crime to worship Lord Jagannath in West Bengal? Why does it hurt them so much? We all go to Puri. When I go to Puri, the RSS and BJP protest against me. Have you forgotten?'
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
Sakherbazar's Durga mandap farewell for para puja organiser
1 2 Kolkata: When the coffin of 56-year-old Samir Guha , a senior central govt statistical officer, reached Sakherbazar Chanditala on Wednesday, the Guha family laid him on the Durga mandap of his beloved Bijoy Sangha Club, located right opposite his flat. Guha lost his life in the terror attack at Pahalgam on Tuesday. "For the last six years, Guha used to make this mandap his home during the festivals. Whether it be Durga Puja or Kali Puja, he arranged puja items, getting up early in the morning and starting arrangements that continued late into the night. He was the first to join us during collection of puja subscriptions. It is natural that we bid him the final farewell at this spot," said Swapan Das, a club functionary. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Besides 15 members from the locality, several of Guha's colleagues turned up at Sakherbazar, and accompanied the hearse to the crematorium. They could not help recalling Guha's impact on their careers. A colleague, Rajat Sen, said, "He was polite and humble. Whether it was a problem at home or at work, I could always approach him. I always found him by my side." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be... Reportingly Undo At 9.10 pm, Guha's body arrived at his home in Behala. About half an hour later, around 9.42 pm, the hearse departed for the Keoratala crematorium. His body reached the crematorium around 10 pm. For Guha's wife Sabari and daughter Subhangi (17), who witnessed the horrific incident, life has come to a standstill. Subhangi, who sat for her class XII boards this year, was seen staying close to her father's coffin ever since her arrival in Kolkata. However, she barely uttered a word. Both mother and daughter chose not to go to Keoratala crematorium on Wednesday night, with relatives worried about their mental and physical health. As a steady stream of relatives and friends reached their first-floor flat, the only time the mother and daughter stepped out was to go to a doctor. They boarded the auto in silence, and Subhangi's uncle Subrata Ghosh requested the media "to leave them alone in this hour of grief". Sabari, though, attended to some calls even as the main gate remained locked to protect the family from "prying eyes". Among those who visited her, few could hold back their tears. "Please understand their situation. Just look at them. I am leaving as I cannot bear seeing Shuvangi like this any longer," said one of them. Guha's parents have passed away, and his brother is posted at Raipur. "Even on Tuesday morning, Sabari made a video call to my mother. She said they were moving towards Baisaran Valley, the last stop in their itinerary. They sounded so relaxed, as well as excited," recalled Ghosh.
