Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 welcomed the decision by the new West Bengal government to drop the word 'Dhama' from its Digha Jagannath project, calling the move a correction of a long-standing cultural misappropriation. Majhi said he had earlier written to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari registering Odisha's strong objections, and expressed delight that the new administration had responded swiftly and favourably.

Context

Puri, the coastal pilgrimage city in Odisha, houses the Jagannath Temple — one of the four sacred dhamas of Sanatan tradition and the historical epicentre of Jagannath worship. Majhi's post states, 'Mahaprabhu Sri Jagannath heuchanti samagra bishwara praanabindu' — 'Lord Jagannath is the life-force of the entire world and the supreme symbol of our cultural and spiritual identity.' He asserted that Puri's Srikshetra alone holds the scriptural and mythological authority to carry the title 'Jagannath Dhama'.

A tourism-linked Jagannath project in Digha, a coastal town in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, had been developed by the previous West Bengal government and named with the 'Dhama' suffix. Majhi characterised that naming as born of 'narrow political intent and ignorance of Sanatan tradition', arguing it deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Odisha's people and Jagannath devotees worldwide.

Policy Backdrop

Disputes over the replication of Jagannath iconography and nomenclature for tourism projects have periodically surfaced between eastern Indian states. The tradition of Jagannath worship, while centred in Puri, has a widespread presence across Odisha, West Bengal, and beyond, making nomenclature choices politically and religiously sensitive. Majhi, who took charge as Chief Minister in June 2024, has consistently positioned his government as a guardian of Odia cultural and religious identity.

In his post, Majhi confirmed he had formally written to Chief Minister Adhikari to register Odisha's objections and request a correction of what he called a 'cultural error.' The new West Bengal government, according to Majhi's account, has now announced a renaming of the complex to 'Sri Sri Jagannath Mandir Cultural Center' — dropping the contested 'Dhama' designation entirely.

Stakeholders and Impact

The development is significant for millions of Jagannath devotees in Odisha and across the world who regard Puri as the sole authentic Jagannath Dhama. Odia cultural organisations and religious bodies had long flagged the Digha project's name as an encroachment on a sacred identity rooted in scripture. Majhi's post conveys that the renaming restores the classical sanctity of the title and addresses a grievance felt deeply by the Odia community.

West Bengal's tourism sector, which had invested in the Digha project as a religious-tourism draw, will now operate it under the revised name. The change also signals an early gesture of inter-state goodwill from the new West Bengal administration toward its neighbour.

What's Next

Majhi concluded his post with a pledge: 'Our government is always firmly committed to protecting Odia identity and preserving the glory of Mahaprabhu.' He expressed hope that the decision would strengthen 'fraternal bonds and cultural harmony between the two neighbouring states.' Official documentation and a formal gazette notification from the West Bengal government confirming the new name — 'Sri Sri Jagannath Mandir Cultural Center' — will be the next milestone to watch. The episode is likely to set a precedent for how inter-state cultural sensitivities around shared religious traditions are handled through direct chief-ministerial correspondence rather than litigation or public confrontation.