Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has written a letter to West Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari, requesting him to help remove the word “Dham” from the name of the Jagannath temple complex in Digha, located in Purba Medinipur district.
In his letter, Majhi said that calling the temple “Digha Jagannath Dham” has caused concern among Jagannath devotees, religious scholars, and cultural organizations in Odisha and other places. He explained that the term “Jagannath Dham” has a special and historic connection with the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri.
The Chief Minister pointed out that Puri is one of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites of India and holds great religious importance for millions of devotees. According to him, the name “Jagannath Dham” is closely linked to the spiritual identity of Puri and should remain unique to the holy city.
Majhi suggested that the Digha temple could instead be named “Shri Jagannath Temple, Digha.” He said such a change would respect the sentiments of devotees while avoiding confusion about the identity of the Puri shrine.
The Chief Minister also expressed hope that the concerns of devotees and stakeholders would be given due consideration. He added that adopting a different name would strengthen the long-standing cultural ties, goodwill, and mutual respect shared by the people of Odisha and West Bengal.
The issue has been widely discussed in Odisha, where many religious and cultural groups believe that the title “Jagannath Dham” should be reserved exclusively for the centuries-old Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Majhi concluded his letter by seeking personal attention to the matter and expressing hope for a positive decision that respects the faith and sentiments of Jagannath devotees.