Puri servitors felicitate Odisha CM over Digha temple name change
Puri, June 16
Servitors of the Jagannath Temple in Puri organised a civic reception ceremony in honour of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for his efforts in securing the removal of the word "Dham" from the Jagannath Temple in Digha, West Bengal.
The ceremony was organised as a token of gratitude for the Chief Minister's intervention on the issue. The event was attended by Jagannath temple servitors, saints and religious leaders.
BJP MP Sambit Patra welcomed the removal of the word "Dham" from the Digha temple and thanked West Bengal Leader Suvendu Adhikari for accepting the request conveyed by the Odisha government.
Patra said the use of the term "Jagannath Dham" for the Digha temple had become a matter of concern for Odias and devotees of Lord Jagannath, as Puri is regarded as the principal seat of Jagannath worship.
Recalling the controversy, Patra said that when the temple was established in Digha, the use of the term "Jagannath Dham" triggered objections from devotees who maintained that there is only one Jagannath Dham, located in Puri.
According to Patra, CM Majhi had earlier written to the West Bengal government seeking the removal of the word, but the request was not accepted at the time.
He said the issue was revisited after Majhi sent another letter following the change in the West Bengal government and requested that the designation be withdrawn.
Patra said the decision to remove the word "Dham" had brought satisfaction among devotees, residents of Puri and followers of Sanatan Dharma.
Describing the development as a mark of respect for the religious sentiments associated with Lord Jagannath and the centuries-old traditions of Puri, the BJP MP said the issue had remained sensitive for devotees for a long time.
Patra further said that a similar civic reception would be organised for Suvendu Adhikari whenever he visits Odisha in recognition of his role in resolving the matter.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some common sense! As an Odia, it hurt deeply when they called that temple in Digha 'Jagannath Dham'. Puri is not just a location, it's the soul of our culture. Thank you to everyone involved in rectifying this. Jai Jagannath! 🌺
I'm glad this issue was resolved diplomatically instead of becoming a big controversy. But why did it require so many letters? The first one was ignored, and only after political change in West Bengal did things move? That's concerning. Respect for religious sentiments shouldn't be conditional on who's in power.
As an outsider living in India, I find this fascinating. The cultural significance of Puri as the original Dham is clearly very deep. It's good they sorted it out peacefully. Respect where respect is due!
Honestly, this feels like a lot of fuss over a name. In the bigger picture, we have real problems like inflation, unemployment, and education. But I understand why Odias feel strongly about it. Hope the energy spent on this goes into actual development next time.
Jai Jagannath! 🙏 This is a big win for all devotees. Puri's Jagannath Temple is not just a place, it's the heart of Sanatan Dharma. I'm happy both state governments worked together amicably. Now let's hope they also focus on preserving the temple's heritage and improving facilities for pilgrims.
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