A newly inaugurated Jagannath temple in Digha, West Bengal, has raised eyebrows in Puri, the spiritual and cultural seat of Lord Jagannath. Built at a cost of ₹250 crore on a sprawling 24-acre plot in Purba Medinipur district, about 350 km from Puri, the temple was opened by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
While the Digha temple closely resembles the iconic 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri — with sanctums for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, and Goddess Mahalaxmi — its creation has stirred unease among Puri’s religious custodians.
The temple, standing 213 feet tall and constructed in the Kalingan architectural style using sandstone, has been described as a replica of the Puri shrine. This imitation has prompted concern from senior servitors and cultural scholars, particularly regarding the use of the term ‘Dham’ (a sacred pilgrimage site) by the West Bengal government to describe the new temple.
In response, the servitors of the original Puri Jagannath Temple have cautioned their community members not to participate in rituals at the Digha temple. Their concern is rooted in preserving the sanctity, religious protocol, and uniqueness of the Puri temple, which holds immense spiritual significance and centuries-old traditions.
The Digha temple project was announced in 2019, with construction beginning in May 2022 under the oversight of the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation.