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BHUBANESWAR/KOLKATA: Odisha government threatened on Monday legal action against Bengal for naming a newly inaugurated Jagannath temple in Digha as “Jagannath Dham”, escalating an already bitter row that now spans religious tradition, regional pride, and political rivalry.
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee hit back, accusing BJP-governed Odisha of “jealousy” and of targeting Bengalis, while social media campaigns flared with hashtags like #BoycottPuri and #BoycottOdisha.
Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan declared that “Dham” can only be associated with four sacred places – Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameswaram, and Jagannath Puri – and said using it for Digha has “created anguish among devotees everywhere”.
Will bring SOPs for Jagannath temples outside Puri: Odisha
“We will also ask Bengal to stop referring to the beach near the Digha temple as Mahodadhi, a term found in scriptures describing the beach at Puri,” Harichandan said.
Puri’s titular king and Lord Jagannath’s chief servitor Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb condemned the use of the term “Jagannath Dham” for the Digha shrine, which was inaugurated on April 30. He said the term is exclusive to Puri. Citing ancient scriptures and Muktimandapa Pandit Sabha, Deb urged Digha temple authorities to “desist from calling it Jagannath Dham”.
Odisha announced it would introduce SOPs for all Jagannath temples outside Puri, defining the roles of servitors after some participated in the Digha temple’s consecration – a move seen by many in Odisha as a breach of sacred tradition.
For her part, CM Banerjee lashed out at Odisha and other BJP-governed states, accusing them of hostility and discrimination. “When Mamata Banerjee builds skywalks at Dakshineswar or Kalighat, nobody raises a question. When I celebrate Durga and Kali puja, there’s no outrage. Then why this animosity over Jagannath Dham?” she asked. “Why is there so much jealousy?”
Speaking in violence-hit Murshidabad, Banerjee accused Odisha of “thrashing” Bengali-speaking people and said Bengalis are being assaulted in several BJP-governed states, including Maharashtra, Bihar, and UP.
“You are attacking our migrant workers for speaking Bengali but we will not do the same. That is the difference between you and me,” she said. “We have reached out to Odisha, Bihar, and Rajasthan. Our DGP has spoken to Odisha’s DGP. Our chief secretary is writing to the Union home secretary. I hope good sense prevails.”
TMC MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan claimed that 20,000 Bengali workers fled Odisha after recent assaults – a charge Odisha revenue minister Suresh Pujari dismissed, advising Pathan to “stick to cricket commentary”. Odisha police reported no complaints of such attacks.
Banerjee reminded Odisha of Bengal’s support during natural disasters. “You seek engineers from us during cyclones. Bengal sends the maximum number of tourists to Puri. So why the outrage if we build a Jagannath Dham in Digha?” she asked.
Odisha government earlier notified that people should not visit the Digha temple, a move Banerjee condemned. “We all visit Puri, but never ask questions. Why is this bothering them so much?” she said. “I love Puri. I love Odisha. But please, don’t behave like this.”
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