Digha Jagannath temple drops 'Dham' tag after Odisha CM's request
Synopsis
In a rare act of inter-state religious diplomacy, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has dropped the 'Dham' designation from Digha's Jagannath temple — built in 2025 — after Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi formally objected through BJP MP Sambit Patra. The move acknowledges that only four canonical Dhams exist in Hindu tradition, and that Digha's inclusion had hurt sentiments across both states.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced on 8 June that the Digha Jagannath temple will no longer be called a 'Dham'.
The temple will now be known as 'Shri Jagannath Dev Temple' ; the campus retains its identity as a cultural centre.
The change follows a formal letter from Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi , delivered by BJP MP Sambit Patra .
Odisha's objection: Hindu tradition recognises only four Dhams , all established by Adi Shankaracharya ; Digha's use of the title hurt 4.5 crore Odia devotees.
The state cabinet has approved the name change; ISKCON conducts puja at the temple.
Adhikari criticised the previous TMC government for the original naming, calling it an 'insult to traditional culture'.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday, 8 June announced that the Jagannath temple in Digha, East Midnapore district, will no longer carry the designation 'Dham' — a term reserved in Hindu tradition for the four sacred pilgrimage sites established by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple complex will henceforth be known as the 'Shri Jagannath Dev Temple', with the broader campus retaining its original identity as a cultural centre.
How the Change Came About
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Puri, Sambit Patra, arrived in Kolkata as an envoy carrying a formal letter from Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, requesting the removal of the word 'Dham' from the Digha complex. Adhikari accepted the proposal and announced that the state cabinet had already approved the name change, with HIDCO tenders and government funds already sanctioned for the project.
'The Chief Minister of Odisha has sent Puri MP Sambit Patra. He said that everyone wants a puja path. But the word 'Dham' is not compatible with traditional culture. Accepting the proposal of the Chief Minister of Odisha, we are removing the word 'Dham' from the Digha campus,' Adhikari said.
Why Odisha Objected
Patra articulated Odisha's religious and cultural objection clearly: 'According to the tradition of Sanatan, there are four Dhams. One of them is Jagannath Dham in Odisha, where Narayan resides. Adi Shankaracharya established four Dhams. So when Digha temple was built in 2025 and called Dham, not only four and a half crore Odia friends, but also devotees in Bengal were hurt.' The objection, in essence, was that applying the title 'Dham' to any site outside the canonical four amounted to a dilution of a centuries-old religious tradition.
Temple Trust and Worship Arrangements
Digha Jagannath Temple Trustee and Chief Priest Radharman Das welcomed the decision. 'We sincerely welcome this decision of the Hon'ble Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He personally discussed this matter with me, and we are very happy that from now on this temple will be known as 'Digha Jagannath Temple',' Das said. ISKCON, which is responsible for conducting puja at the Digha temple, had been consulted by Adhikari during a prior visit to the ISKCON temple in Mayapur.
Adhikari also clarified that worship at the Digha temple will follow the rules of Jagannath Dev worship as prescribed in Indian culture and scriptures, conducted in a sattvic manner. Prasad will be served, and details of the Trust Committee will be made available on the temple's official website.
Political Dimension
Adhikari used the occasion to draw a sharp contrast with the previous All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, which had overseen the temple's construction and original naming. 'It is not right to write Dham in the name of the temple. I have seen the documents, and it was built as a cultural centre. The insult done to traditional culture by the previous government, this government will not do it,' he said. Patra, in turn, thanked Adhikari for accepting Odisha's request, remarking: 'The new government respects tradition.'
The episode marks a notable instance of inter-state religious diplomacy, with the governments of West Bengal and Odisha aligning on a sensitive question of Hindu tradition. How the renaming is received among the broader devotee community in both states will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But the underlying issue is substantive: attaching 'Dham' to a state-built complex inaugurated in 2025 was always a contestable claim within Hindu canonical tradition. What is notable is that it took a formal inter-state diplomatic overture — rather than internal religious or scholarly pushback — to correct it. The episode also hands Adhikari a ready-made contrast with the TMC ahead of future electoral cycles in Bengal, framing the previous government as careless with religious sentiment. Whether the renaming fully resolves the controversy, or whether questions about the temple's governance and ISKCON's role persist, remains to be seen.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was 'Dham' removed from the Digha Jagannath temple's name?
The word 'Dham' was removed because Hindu tradition recognises only four sacred Dhams, all established by Adi Shankaracharya — one of which is Jagannath Dham in Odisha. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi formally requested the change through BJP MP Sambit Patra, arguing that calling the Digha temple a Dham hurt the sentiments of 4.5 crore Odia devotees.
What will the Digha Jagannath temple now be called?
The temple will be known as 'Shri Jagannath Dev Temple', while the broader complex retains its original designation as a cultural centre. West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced the change on 8 June after cabinet approval.
Who manages worship at the Digha Jagannath temple?
ISKCON is responsible for conducting puja at the Digha Jagannath temple. Chief Priest Radharman Das, also a temple trustee, welcomed the renaming decision and confirmed that CM Adhikari had personally discussed the matter with him.
How did the previous West Bengal government factor into this controversy?
CM Suvendu Adhikari criticised the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for originally naming the complex a 'Dham', saying documents show it was built as a cultural centre. He called the original naming an 'insult to traditional culture' that his government would not repeat.
What are the four canonical Dhams in Hindu tradition?
According to Hindu tradition, the four Dhams established by Adi Shankaracharya are Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, Puri (Jagannath Dham) in the east, and Rameswaram in the south. The Digha temple's use of the title 'Dham' was objected to on the grounds that it conflicted with this centuries-old religious framework.
