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

In light of the ongoing dispute over the recent consecration of a new temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath in Digha (West Bengal), Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo issued a stern reproach aimed at the government of the neighbouring state on Friday.

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“Puri Srimandir alone is Jagannath Dham,” the Deputy CM KV Singh Deo asserted.

Another Deputy CM, Pravati Parida, emphasised that under the autocratic approaches, pride tends to flourish; however, Lord Jagannath himself does not condone arrogance.

Odisha Deputy Chief Ministers' reaction

“Arrogance of the ‘autocratic rulers’ gradually reaches a height. We all know very well that our Lord (Jagannath) tolerates everything but not ‘arrogance’. The time will tell whether the ‘arrogance’ is great or our Lord,” Deputy CM Parida said to mediapersons.

Further addressing the issue, Deputy CM KV Singh Deo reiterated that while constructing temples is not prohibited, Puri holds the exclusive honour of being the Jagannath Dham—an unparalleled spiritual centre in Indian tradition.

“Four Shankaracharyas are there in four Dhams. Those are the lone Dhams in the country. There is no restriction on anyone to construct a Jagannath temple. She (West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) should think on the justification of naming the temple (in Digha) as a Dham,” Deputy CM Singh Deo stated while speaking to mediapersons.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi remains apprised of this development, and appropriate actions will be taken as deemed necessary, the senior minister expressed.

“Whatever steps are required to be taken by the State government will certainly be taken. You (to mediapersons) just wait and see,” Deputy CM Singh Deo added.

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Worth mentioning, the four Dhams, also known as Char Dham, are the four significant Hindu pilgrimage sites: Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram.