West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha has triggered a political and cultural storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing her of undermining Odisha’s sacred traditions.
Why BJP Opposes Mamata’s Digha Temple?
The BJP claims that the Digha temple’s consecration violated established norms, particularly regarding the use of sacred Nabakalebar wood—traditionally reserved for the Puri Jagannath Temple.
Additionally, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri suspended senior servitor Ramakrushna Das Mahapatra, alleging that he played a key role in the Digha temple’s consecration and provided surplus sacred wood for its deities.
Shankaracharya and Odisha’s Opposition
The Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati, has reinforced that Puri is the only rightful Jagannath Dham, rejecting any attempts to replicate its spiritual significance elsewhere.
Odisha’s ceremonial King of Puri, Gajapati Dibyasingha Dev, and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi have also urged Mamata Banerjee to drop the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ from the Digha temple’s name, citing historical and religious sanctity.
Mamata Banerjee’s Response
Mamata Banerjee has dismissed BJP’s accusations, stating that the Digha temple was built to honor Lord Jagannath and promote tourism, not to challenge Puri’s religious legacy.
She has also denied allegations of using sacred wood from Puri, asserting that West Bengal has ample neem trees for temple construction.
Political Implications
With West Bengal’s 2026 assembly elections approaching, analysts believe Mamata’s Digha temple project is aimed at countering BJP’s Hindu vote bank strategy.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders like Suvendu Adhikari and Amit Malviya continue to criticize Mamata’s move, calling it a misleading attempt to rival Puri’s Jagannath Dham.
Final Thoughts
The Digha Jagannath Temple controversy has escalated into a political and religious debate, with BJP and Odisha’s religious authorities defending Puri’s legacy, while Mamata Banerjee stands firm on her temple project.
