West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday defended the naming of the newly built Jagannath Temple in Digha as “Jagannath Dham,” emphasizing respect for all religious institutions, including the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.
“We respect the temple in Puri and we also respect Jagannath Dham. Kaali Temples and Gurdwaras are found throughout the country. Temples exist in all areas. Why is there so much anger on this issue?” said Mamata Banerjee, addressing the media.
The controversy erupted after the West Bengal government referred to the Digha temple as “Jagannath Dham”, a term traditionally associated with the 12th-century temple in Puri—one of the four cardinal dhams (pilgrimage sites) in Hindu tradition.
This decision triggered a strong reaction from Chief Servitor of Puri Temple, Daitapati Bhabani Das Mohapatra, who criticized the move as a “political stunt” and a violation of sacred tradition.
“There are only four dhams—Rameswaram, Badrinath, Dwarka, and Jagannath Dham in Puri—recognized in scriptures. Any place outside the chardham cannot be called a dham,” Mohapatra told media.
“This is a crime by Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. They didn’t consult anyone, and it’s done out of arrogance,” he added.
Mohapatra called for the withdrawal of the term “dham” in relation to the Digha temple and warned that the Puri servitor community was deeply hurt.
In response, Mamata Banerjee refuted allegations that sacred neem wood, used in traditional Puri rituals, was used in the Digha temple’s construction. She clarified that the idols are made of marble, not wood.
“They are accusing me of stealing neem wood… The idols at Digha Jagannath temple are made of marble. Why are they so affected by this?” she said.
The Digha Jagannath Temple, built over 20 acres with a cost of ₹250 crore, was inaugurated by CM Banerjee on April 30, 2025. The temple houses the same deities as the Puri shrine and draws architectural inspiration from it.
Banerjee criticized attempts to discourage pilgrims from visiting the Digha temple, suggesting the backlash is politically motivated ahead of the elections.