Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 6 : Historian Anil Dhir has downplayed the controversy surrounding the newly constructed Jagannath temple in Digha, calling it an issue that is being unnecessarily exaggerated and clarified calling a place a 'Dham' does not grant it religious status equivalent to the traditional four Dhams.
Speaking on the matter, Dhir remarked, "...This is not an issue at all; it is being blown out of proportion without any reason. The crux of the matter is that a new temple has come up in Digha, a town on the border of Odisha. They have installed stone idols of Jagannath, which are not as per the prescribed rules..."
Dhir also criticised the growing politicisation of the Jagannath temple in recent years.
"Just writing the name Dham does not make it a Dham. There are 4 Dhams in our religion, and these are very important Dhams...In my opinion, the Jagannath temple has been politicised too much in the last 15-20 years. Political parties of all colours and ideologies use it as an election issue, which I think is wrong," he added.
Highlighting the deteriorating condition of the temple Dhir urged political parties and the state government to focus on securing temple's infrastructure instead of doing "petty" politics.
"We all know the condition of temple is not very good, it a very old temple and with climate change deterioration is happing very fast and even the structure is not very safe, stone blocks falling, water leaking. So rather than indulging in the petty politics important should be on how to secure temple and give all the amenities to the pilgrims who come," he added.
Meanwhile, Padma Shri awardee and Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also objected to naming a newly built Jagannath temple in Digha as 'Jagannath Dham,' saying it undermines the sanctity of Puri's Jagannath Dham and called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to clarify the state's stand.
Speaking to ANI, Pattnaik said,"...We welcome that the Jagannath temple has been built by the West Bengal government, but how can you name the Jagannath temple as Jagannath Dham, no one will accept this ..."
The artist clarified that there was no opposition to the construction of the temple itself but questioned the use of the term 'Dham,' which holds significant religious importance.
"There is no objection to the temple, we only have a problem with why you naming it as Jagannath Dham, because there are four Dhams in our Hindu scriptures and the Dham of Mahaprabhu Jagannath is in Puri, then how can another Jagannath Dham be built in Digha?" he said.
He further urged Bengal CM to clarify the state government's position on the matter. "You (Mamata Banerjee) will have to give an official statement because this is not Jagannath Dham, this is Jagannath Temple," Pattnaik told ANI.
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.