In a major decision aimed at respecting religious traditions, the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal announced it will remove the word “Dham” from the newly constructed Jagannath Temple complex in the coastal town of Digha. The decision effectively resolves a year-long inter-state dispute regarding the shrine’s nomenclature.
The announcement was made at the state secretariat by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, following a formal request from Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The message was delivered to Adhikari by Puri MP Sambit Patra, who traveled to Kolkata as an emissary.
“The previous government approved this project as a cultural centre but later inserted the word ‘Dham’ into it. Naming the new replica a ‘Dham’ is not in accordance with Sanatan culture. We will initiate necessary official procedures to drop the word immediately,” Chief Minister Adhikari stated.
The ₹250-crore grand temple complex, heavily inspired by the architecture of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, was inaugurated on April 30, 2025, by the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration led by Mamata Banerjee. The former government named the site the “Shri Shri Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre.”
This choice of words immediately triggered widespread protests across Odisha. Spiritual leaders, including the Puri Shankaracharya, the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, and millions of devotees argued that the sacred title of “Dham” belongs exclusively to the original Puri shrine, which stands as one of the four cardinal Dhams of Hinduism.
Welcoming the move, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his deep delight on social media, thanking the Bengal government for overturning the “shortsighted policy” of the past. He confirmed that the complex will be renamed the “Shri Shri Jagannath Cultural Centre.”
While the name is changing to honor Odia sentiments, Chief Minister Adhikari assured that religious activities at the site will remain completely uninterrupted. Daily worship and rituals will continue to be conducted by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) strictly adhering to traditional Jagannath culture.