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The Hindu
28-04-2025
- The Hindu
Digha gets ready for grand Jagannath temple inauguration
Digha, a coastal town in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, has been decked up for the inauguration of Lord Jagannath temple, which will be similar to the famous shrine in Puri. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the ₹250-crore temple, built on 20 acres of land, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Ms. Banerjee arrived in Digha on Monday and visited the temple twice during the day taking stock of the preparations. Tourist attraction 'This temple will add a new feather to Digha's tourism [cap] and will be recognised at the international level. Significant development work has been carried out in Digha. The new face of Digha is already attracting more tourists,' the Chief Minister said. The Trinamool Congress chairperson emphasised on 'Shorbo Dhormo Somonnoy' religious harmony and said that the temple will emerge as a confluence of spirituality and harmony. 'Today, I visited Digha to personally review the preparations for the temple's inauguration and the grand Mahayajna. Necessary instructions have been issued to ensure seamless arrangements for all devotees arriving from across Bengal and beyond. Let us come together to celebrate this sacred milestone in our collective journey,' Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X. Digha is an important tourist destination in the State and the Chief Minister emphasised that the town had a charm of its own as it was on the coast. 'Now, if it becomes a place of pilgrimage, more tourists will come. I think the sculptors have done a splendid job,' she said. The official invitation said that the temple will host Maha Yajna ahead of Prana Pratistha (consecration ceremony) on Tuesday and Wednesday (on the occasion of Akshay Trithiya) and the inauguration ceremony will commence at 2.30 p.m. The Chief Minister came up with the idea of the temple in December 2018 and the work on it started in May 2022. The temple is a replica of the 12th-century world famous shrine in Puri and its inauguration has been a much-awaited event. The coastal town has been painted blue and white — the colours of West Bengal government — and all roads leading to the temple have been illuminated with decorative lights. Promoted as Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra by the West Bengal government, the temple has been developed by Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO). Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP raised a question as to whether 'Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra' (cultural center) was being inaugurated or Jagannath Temple. 'The tender documents of West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation reveal that Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra has been built at Digha? ...You must reprint the invitation card with proper clarity. You can also send me a reply clarifying whether HIDCO has built a Temple or a Cultural Centre,' Mr. Adhikari said. The BJP leader said that on April 30, his party would start the rebuilding and restoration work of the 'vandalised Hindu temples of the Murshidabad district' and added that funds would not be sought or received from the Mamata Banerjee government. Riots broke out in Murshidabad on April 11 and 12 in which three persons were killed and hundreds were rendered homeless. Ms. Banerjee is likely to visit Murshidabad after the Digha temple inauguration.
News18
28-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
Bengal's Jagannath Temple Inauguration: Mamata Reaches Digha; BJP Plans Events To Counter TMC
Last Updated: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already arrived in Digha, where a large yajna is scheduled for Tuesday, ahead of the 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration ceremony) on April 30 The political climate in West Bengal is heating up as the grand inauguration of the Jagannath Temple in Digha approaches. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already arrived in Digha, where a large yajna (sacred ritual) is scheduled for Tuesday, ahead of the 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration ceremony) on April 30. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is promoting the event as a major spiritual and cultural milestone. The state government plans to broadcast the inauguration across all blocks in West Bengal through LED screens, highlighting the significance of the ceremony. Digha is being heavily decorated, with arrangements made for thousands of attendees. Today, I visited Digha to personally review the preparations for the temple's inauguration and the grand Mahayajna. Necessary instructions have been issued to ensure seamless arrangements for all devotees arriving from across Bengal and us come together to celebrate… — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 28, 2025 A massive yajna will begin on April 29, with Banerjee expected to participate and offer the 'Purnahuti' (final offering) in the evening. On April 30, the rituals will continue with an Abhishek (ceremonial bathing of the deity), dressing of Lord Jagannath, followed by the Pran Pratishtha and the official opening of the temple. Cultural performances, including a special act by Dona Ganguly and her troupe, are also scheduled as part of the celebrations. Banerjee said, 'The yajna begins tomorrow. This Jagannath Dham will be a jewel in Digha's crown. On one hand, it's a spiritual milestone; on the other, it boosts tourism. Digha is set to become a destination for international tourism. This is an emotional moment for all of us." 'নাথ, তুমি এসো ধীরেসুখ-দুখ-হাসি-নয়ননীরে,লহো আমার জীবন ঘিরে–সংসারে সব কাজে ধ্যানে জ্ঞানে হৃদয়ে রহো॥"As we approach the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple in Digha, the sacred rituals are being performed with reverence. The arrival of Lord Jagannath in Bengal is a moment… — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 26, 2025 BJP PLANS PARALLEL RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL EVENTS Not to be left behind, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also announced major religious events on the same day in a clear bid to counter the TMC's narrative. BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar has declared that he will perform puja at a temple in Murshidabad that was damaged during recent violence. He said, 'We will repair the temple and conduct puja on 30 April. I will personally be there. Mamata Banerjee is anti-Hindu — Murshidabad is a clear example of that." As pledged earlier, on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, i.e. on 30th April, 2025 we will start the rebuilding and restoration process of the vandalised Hindu Temples of the Murshidabad district, which came under the heinous, reprehensible and disgraceful attack by the… — Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) April 28, 2025 Suvendu Adhikari has called for a Sanatani Rally in Kanthi, East Midnapore, also scheduled for 30 April. In a strong statement on social media, Adhikari said: 'As promised, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, 30 April 2025, we will begin rebuilding and renovating the Hindu temples in Murshidabad that were damaged in jihadist attacks. These temples, bearing marks of barbaric violence, will undergo purification and reformation through traditional rituals. No financial aid will be taken from the anti-Hindu Mamata Banerjee government. All costs will be borne by the Hindu community." He also warned that if non-Hindus are allowed into the Jagannath Temple during its inauguration, the BJP will raise the issue publicly. Today, Smt. @MamataOfficial visited the newly constructed Jagannath Temple in her meticulous attention to detail, she thoroughly inspected the temple complex, ensuring every aspect was in place ahead of its highly anticipated inauguration on April 30. #JoyJagannath — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 28, 2025 ALL EYES ON APRIL 30 top videos View all Political analyst Sambit Pal said, 'The Left may call it competitive Hindutva politics, but I see it as a complementary Hindutva narrative. One party is trying to escape its pro-minority image and another is trying to make their Hindutva agenda stronger." As both the TMC and BJP gear up for significant religious events, the day is expected to carry not just spiritual, but high political significance in West Bengal. While the TMC seeks to align itself with cultural and religious pride through the Jagannath Temple, the BJP is mobilising support in other districts to assert its own Hindutva narrative. First Published:
