Digha Jagannath temple row: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee marginalising Puri Srimandir!

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee once again campaigned on Tuesday in support of the naming of Digha Jagannath temple, envisioning it as an additional ‘Dham’, leaving apart the ‘Char Dham’ such as Badrinath, Rameswaram, Puri, and Dwarka.

Also Read: Digha temple is not ‘Jagannath Dham’: Puri Gajapati Maharaja

Highlighting the skywalks previously built near other temples in the neighbouring state, such as Kalibari and Dakshineswar had faced no opposition, Mamata questioned why the naming of Jagannath temple in Digha as ‘Jagannath Dham’ now sparks controversy.

Idols of Lord Jagannath available in market: Mamata

Banerjee dismissed the allegations that neem trees were appropriated for the Digha temple project, asserting, “I have four neem trees in my garden. Should you require them, tell me”. She further said that Jagannath idols can be purchased without difficulty and owning them is ‘quite common’.

Responding to concerns regarding the procurement of deity figures, Banerjee stressed the liberty of visiting places of worship, comparing the situation to visitors to Puri who receive no such scrutiny. She criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for ‘disparaging her visits to Puri pilgrimage town’, questioning their resilience in the face of perceived provocations. “Have you forgotten? Aren’t you even ashamed?” the West Bengal CM questioned again.

Discussing inter-state relations, Mamata Banerjee recalled the assistance West Bengal had extended to Odisha during periods of potato scarcity and post-cyclone recoveries, noting the pivotal role played by Bengali engineers in restoring power supply in Odisha.
Mamata also underscored the significant presence of Bengali tourists in Odisha around the year, including major events like Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra.

Banerjee queried why West Bengal’s move of naming Digha Jagannath temple as ‘Dham’ should meet with opposition, suggesting that her intentions are misunderstood.

Meanwhile, Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi has noted her remarks, though the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri has yet to formally respond.

Must Read: ‘Puri shrine alone is Jagannath Dham’: Odisha Dy CM on Digha Jagannath temple row

“There is only one Dham of Lord Jagannath, and that is in Puri.” Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Abhimukteshwarananda Saraswati made this remark in the context of recently consecrated Digha Jagannath temple in West Bengal being referred to as a Dham.