Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has written to his West Bengal counterpart, Suvendu Adhikari, urging him to facilitate the removal of the word “Dham” from the nomenclature of the Jagannath temple complex at Digha in Purba Medinipur district, citing concerns over the religious and cultural sentiments of devotees of Lord Jagannath.
In his letter, Majhi said the naming of the shrine as “Digha Jagannath Dham” has generated considerable concern among devotees, religious scholars and socio-cultural organisations in Odisha and elsewhere.
The Chief Minister asserted that the term “Jagannath Dham” is intrinsically associated with the abode of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath at Puri, one of the four sacred Char Dhams of India, and carries immense spiritual, historical and cultural significance.
“The nomenclature occupies a unique place in the faith and consciousness of countless devotees,” Majhi said, emphasising that the sanctity and distinct identity of Shree Jagannath Dham at Puri should be preserved.
Referring to Adhikari’s understanding of issues related to Jagannath heritage and the sentiments of the people of Odisha, Majhi expressed confidence that the concerns raised by devotees and stakeholders would receive due consideration.
The Odisha Chief Minister requested the West Bengal government to adopt a suitable alternative name for the Digha temple complex by dropping the word “Dham.” He suggested that the shrine could instead be named “Shri Jagannath Temple, Digha.”
According to Majhi, such a move would be widely appreciated by devotees and would further strengthen the longstanding bonds of goodwill, cultural affinity and mutual respect between the people of Odisha and West Bengal.
The letter comes amid continuing public discourse in Odisha over the use of the term “Jagannath Dham” for the Digha temple complex, with many devotees and cultural organisations maintaining that the designation is uniquely linked to the 12th-century shrine at Puri.
Majhi concluded the letter by seeking Adhikari’s personal attention to the matter and expressing hope for a positive resolution in keeping with the sentiments of Jagannath devotees.
