Howrah (West Bengal) [India], May 5 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday emphasiSed the importance of respecting all religious institutions, including the Jagannath Temple in Puri and the Digha Jagannath Temple.
Speaking to the media, CM Mamata Banerjee stated, "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?"
This comes after West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, referred to the Digha temple as "Jagannath Dham," a term traditionally reserved for the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.
The Chief Servitor of the Puri Jagannath Temple has strongly criticised the West Bengal government's decision to label the newly built Jagannath Temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham, " describing it as a "political stunt."
Speaking to ANI, Chief Servitor Daitapati Bhabani Das Mohapatra asserted that, according to sacred texts, there are only four recognised dhams (pilgrimage sites): Rameswaram, Badrinath, Dwarka, and Jagannath Dham, and no other place can be designated as a 'dham.'
"We all Daitapatis and our community are hurt since this controversy has erupted. Since the time we have started our worship and everything we have heard from our ancestors or what is written in our puranas and skands (holy books), there are only four dhaams: Rameswaram, Badrinath, Dwarka, and Jagannath Dham, out of which Jagannath Dham is the most revered... this is a matter of crime. They cannot name it like this. Dham is only Jagannath Dham," Mohapatra said.
Mohapatra said any place outside of our chaardham cannot be named as a dham urged the government to withdraw the use of the term 'dham'.
"Any place outside of our chaardham cannot be named as a dham. This is a crime by Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. We will request them to retract the name' dham'... You called it dham, placed murtis in it, and didn' t consult anyone... I will say they did it out of arrogance. This is a political stunt. They know they will not win in Bengal this time..." he said.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also refuted allegations that "sacred neem wood" from Puri's Jagannath Temple was used in making the idols in Digha's Jagannath Temple, clarifying that the idols there are made of marble.
"They are bothered because of the Jagannath Temple in Digha and are accusing me of stealing neem wood...The idols (at Digha Jagannath temple) are made of marble. I got to know that they questioned the Daitapati (servitor) about where he got the wood from. They had also issued a notification asking people not to visit Digha's Jagannath temple...Why are they so affected by this?," CM Mamata Banerjee said.
The Rs 250 crore temple in Digha, constructed over 20 acres, was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 30, 2025. The temple, inspired by the 12 th- century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, houses the same deities.