Naming of a newly built Jagannath temple in Digha sparks controversy

BHUBANESWAR: When Shakespeare wrote the famous line ‘what’s in a name’ in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, little did he know that its significance will be felt centuries later.Recently, the West Bengal govt decided to name a newly consecrated Jagannath temple in Digha as ‘Jagannath Dham’, sparking agony and resentment at the Lord’s original home in Puri.On April 30, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee designated the shrine as ‘Jagannath Dham’, drawing sharp criticism from various quarters, particularly from Odisha.Various stakeholders, including the public, servitors of Puri temple, king Dibyasingha Deb, religious gurus like the Shankaracharya, Padma awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik, opposition political parties and Odisha govt have in unison argued that the use of the word ‘Dham’ with the shrine infringes upon the spiritual and cultural legacy of the original Jagannath Temple in Puri, which has historically been known as ‘Jagannath Dham’ and is one of the four Dhams of Hinduism in India. As the controversy continues to simmer with pressure mounting on Mamata govt to drop ‘Jagannath Dham’ from the Digha temple, experts have raised important questions about religious nomenclature, cultural ownership and the delicate balance between preserving traditional sanctity and establishing new places of worship in modern times.“Names carry cultural weight and historical significance. The name Jagannath Dham holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for millions of devotees. People feel emotionally connected to the temple’s identity. The name represents centuries of faith, devotion, and cultural practices that cannot be altered,” said Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati.Religious experts emphasised that ‘Jagannath Dham’ is not merely a physical structure, but embodies the collective faith of generations. Chairman of Puri Jagannath Temple managing committee and scion of the erstwhile royal kingdom of Utkal, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb pointed out that ancient texts and scriptures mention this name, establishing its historical authenticity. Deb said the temple’s architecture, rituals, and festivals are deeply intertwined with its nomenclature.“We will soon come up with a set of guidelines and advisories for other Jagannath temples to follow,” state law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said.Devotees criticised the Odisha govt for reacting to the situation ‘late’. “The name ‘Jagannath Dham’ was not given overnight. The previous BJD govt knew that the West Bengal govt was building a replica of Puri temple in Digha. The current govt should have intervened much earlier and advised the Bengal govt on the ‘naming’ issue,” said Priyadarsan Pattanaik, convener of Jagannath Sena, a cultural outfit.“What’s more shocking is that several servitors from Puri Jagannath Temple performed puja at the Digha shrine during the consecration and played an active role in the temple’s construction. They should have advised the Bengal authorities not to name it Jagannath Dham,” said Sudarsan Pattnaik, noted sand sculptor and former member of Jagannath temple managing committee.Odisha govt authorities said they were unaware of the Bengal govt’s plan about the naming of the Digha temple. “Our govt took notice of public sentiments and promptly intervened after learning about the nomenclature following the temple’s inauguration. Our CM has already written to his Bengal counterpart, seeking immediate removal of the name. We have not received any response from the Bengal govt yet,” a senior govt official said.According to the Odisha govt, it is not opposed to construction of new Jagannath temples elsewhere. “We welcome Jagannath temples as they propagate Jagannath culture. However, there should not be any attempt to compromise and tweak the Moola-Pitha’s (real abode) established tradition and culture,” Harichandan added.Mamata, meanwhile, has accused the BJP of ‘jealousy and discrimination’. “When Mamata Banerjee builds skywalks at Dakshineswar or Kalighat, nobody raises a question. When I celebrate Durga and Kali puja, there’s no outrage. Then why this animosity over Jagannath Dham? Why is there so much jealousy,” she asked.