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Key Points

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee visited the newly built Jagannath temple in Digha ahead of the Rath Yatra. The Rs 250 crore temple, inaugurated earlier this year, is modeled after Puri’s historic shrine. The Rath Yatra procession will follow a 1 km route with rituals including an afternoon aarti. Meanwhile, Puri gears up for its grand annual chariot festival with traditional bathing ceremonies.

Key Points: Mamata Banerjee Visits Digha Jagannath Temple Ahead of Rath Yatra

  • Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Rs 250 crore temple in April 2025
  • Rath Yatra to cover 1 km route with aarti at 2:30 PM
  • Temple mirrors Puri's 12th-century Jagannath architecture
  • Puri prepares for annual chariot festival with sacred bathing rituals
2 min read

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee visits Lord Jagannath temple in Digha

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee inspects Digha's Rs 250 crore Jagannath temple before the grand Rath Yatra procession starting June 27.

"Lord Jagannath temple has become a major place of pilgrimage. – Mamata Banerjee"

Digha, June 26

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Lord Jagannath temple in Digha in West Bengal on Thursday, ahead of Jagannath Rath Yatra scheduled to start on June 27.

CM Mamata Banerjee said, "Lord Jagannath temple has become a major place of pilgrimage. The Rath Yatra will be held on a 1 km route from 9 am to 4 pm tomorrow. The aarti will be performed at 2.30 pm. Our ministerial team has arrived here for this."

The Rs 250 crore temple in Digha, constructed over 20 acres, was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 30, 2025. The temple, inspired by the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, houses the same deities.

Meanwhile, the temple town of Odisha's Puri is all set to witness the Jagannath Rath Yatra, 2025.

During the festival, devotees draw the grand chariots of the three deities--Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister goddess Subhadra--to Gundicha Temple, where the deities reside for a week and then return to the Jagannath temple.

On Wednesday, June 11, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, held the sacred bathing ritual on the occasion of Snana Purnima in Puri. The three deities were ceremonially bathed with 108 pitchers of sacred water. This ritual marks a significant lead-up to the grand Rath Yatra.

The Ratha Yatra, also known as the Chariot Celebration of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra, is one of the most prominent Hindu festivals in Puri, Odisha. This festival takes place every year on the second day of the Shukla Paksha in the months of June or July. The three chariots are built anew every year ahead of the annual chariot festival.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Good to see our CM taking time for spiritual activities amidst political work. The new Jagannath temple in Digha is truly magnificent - visited last month and was amazed by the architecture. Jai Jagannath! 🙏
P
Priya M.
While I appreciate the temple development, I hope the government is also focusing on basic amenities for pilgrims. The roads near Digha need improvement. Spiritual tourism is good but infrastructure matters too!
A
Arjun S.
As someone from Odisha originally, I'm happy to see Jagannath culture spreading to Bengal. But nothing compares to the original Puri temple's grandeur and traditions. The Digha temple is beautiful though - may bring more cultural unity between the states.
S
Sneha P.
The timing seems political with elections coming up next year. But if it helps preserve our culture and brings devotees together, I suppose it's fine. The Rath Yatra is always a beautiful sight regardless of politics!
V
Vikram D.
250 crores is a huge amount for a temple. Could some portion have been used for hospitals or schools? I'm not against temples but we need balance in development. That said, the photos look stunning - will visit during winter break.
M
Meena T.
My grandparents used to travel to Puri every year for Rath Yatra. Now with this temple in Bengal, elderly devotees like them can participate more easily. This is truly a blessing for local devotees. ❤️

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