The Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral success in West Bengal has reignited hope among followers of Lord Jagannath in Odisha that the contentious term 'dham' will finally be removed from the Lord's temple in Digha. For months, religious groups, servitors, and devotees in Odisha have strongly objected to the use of 'Jagannath Dham' for the temple in the coastal town of Digha, arguing that the title is spiritually and historically tied to the shrine in Puri, one of Hinduism's four sacred dhams.
Background of the Controversy
The Digha temple was inaugurated by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee exactly one year ago, and she named it Jagannath Dham. This sparked widespread debate across Odisha, with Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, and several organizations accusing the Mamata government of ignoring repeated appeals from devotees and religious scholars regarding the naming.
Renewed Optimism with BJP in Power
Now that the BJP is in power in Bengal, many in Odisha believe the long-standing controversy may finally be resolved. Researcher Anita Sabat, who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue on Monday, expressed hope that this cultural infringement would be stopped. "There were multiple letters written to Mamata, including those by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, requesting her to drop 'dham' from the Digha temple's name. But there was not a single response from the West Bengal government," Sabat said.
She added that not only the word 'dham' but also the logo of Neelachakra has been copied by the Digha temple, which is a Rs 250 crore replica of the Puri Jagannath Temple.
Devotees' Expectations
Members of Jagannath cultural organizations said they are hopeful that the new political environment will lead to a more pragmatic approach towards the sentiments attached to Puri's identity. "Puri is not just a temple town. It is the original Jagannath Dham, recognised for centuries across the world. Devotees were hurt by the use of the word elsewhere. The state government should now pursue the issue with the new government in Bengal," suggested Jagannath scholar Harekrushna Satpathy.
The issue has been a point of contention between Odisha and West Bengal, with many in Odisha viewing the naming as an infringement on their cultural heritage. With the change in political leadership in Bengal, there is renewed optimism that the matter will be addressed diplomatically.
