Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday welcomed the West Bengal government’s decision to remove the word “Dham” from the controversial Digha Jagannath project, describing it as a historic step that upholds Sanatan traditions and preserves the unique spiritual status of Lord Jagannath.
In a post on X, Majhi said Lord Jagannath is the spiritual centre of millions of devotees worldwide and the foremost symbol of Odisha’s cultural and religious identity. He reiterated that, according to scriptural and traditional beliefs, only the sacred Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri enjoys the singular and unparalleled status of “Jagannath Dham” in Sanatan Dharma.
The Chief Minister alleged that the previous West Bengal government had wrongly used the term “Jagannath Dham” for the Digha project, attributing the decision to political considerations and a lack of understanding of its religious and cultural significance. He said the nomenclature had hurt the sentiments of people in Odisha and Jagannath devotees across the world by creating confusion over the unique sanctity of Puri.
Majhi said he had formally conveyed Odisha’s objections to the new West Bengal leadership and urged it to correct what he termed a cultural and religious anomaly. According to him, the issue was not merely about a name but about safeguarding the centuries-old spiritual heritage associated with Lord Jagannath and preserving the sacred identity of Puri.
Welcoming the decision, he said the West Bengal government had appreciated the sensitivity of the matter and subsequently withdrawn the word “Dham” from the Digha project. The complex will now be known as the “Sri Sri Jagannath Mandir Cultural Center.”
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the people of Odisha, Majhi said the move would help protect the scriptural authenticity and traditional significance of Jagannath culture while strengthening mutual respect, cultural harmony and goodwill between Odisha and West Bengal.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to safeguarding Odia identity and preserving the glory, traditions and heritage associated with Lord Jagannath.
The renaming is expected to bring closure to a controversy that had triggered strong reactions from religious leaders, devotees and socio-cultural organisations in Odisha, many of whom had objected to the use of the title “Jagannath Dham” for the Digha temple complex.