Bhubaneswar, June 9: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has written to senior West Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari, urging intervention to facilitate the removal of the word “Dham” from the nomenclature of the Jagannath temple complex at Digha in Purba Medinipur district.

In his letter, Majhi expressed concern over the naming of the shrine as “Digha Jagannath Dham,” stating that it has sparked widespread debate and concern among devotees of Lord Jagannath, religious scholars and socio-cultural organisations in Odisha and other parts of the country.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the term “Jagannath Dham” is inseparably linked to Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, one of India’s four sacred Char Dhams. He noted that the title carries immense spiritual, historical and cultural significance and occupies a unique place in the faith and consciousness of millions of devotees worldwide.

Majhi stated that preserving the sanctity and distinct identity of Puri as the original and revered Jagannath Dham is essential. He expressed confidence that the concerns raised by devotees would receive due consideration, given the deep cultural and religious ties shared by the people of Odisha and West Bengal.

As an alternative, the Chief Minister suggested that the Digha shrine could simply be named “Shri Jagannath Temple, Digha,” without the use of the word “Dham.” According to him, such a move would respect the sentiments of devotees while strengthening the longstanding bonds of goodwill, mutual respect and cultural affinity between the two neighbouring states.

The letter comes amid continuing public discourse in Odisha, where many religious and cultural organisations maintain that the designation “Jagannath Dham” is uniquely associated with the centuries-old shrine at Puri and should not be used for any other temple complex.

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