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Mamata Banerjee Inaugurates ₹250 Crore Jagannath Dham in Digha

The temple, modeled after Puri's iconic shrine, opens to the public as political and cultural debates intensify over its significance and state funding.

Lord Jagannath Temple at Digha in the East Midnapore district (photo:IANS)
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BJP leader Dilip Ghosh attends Jagannath temple inauguration in Digha, meets Mamata (Photo:IANS)

Overview

  • West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Jagannath Dham temple in Digha on April 30, 2025, marking the culmination of a six-year project costing ₹250 crore.
  • The temple, built in the Kalinga architectural style with pink sandstone from Rajasthan, spans 20 acres and mirrors the design of the original Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.
  • The Odisha government and Puri temple servitor groups have raised objections to the use of the term 'Dham' and Neelachakra imagery, citing concerns over preserving Puri’s unique traditions.
  • Mamata Banerjee directed the distribution of prasad and idol photographs to every household in Bengal, a move criticized by opposition parties for using state resources for religious outreach.
  • The inauguration is widely viewed as a strategic effort by the Trinamool Congress to consolidate Hindu voter support ahead of the 2026 state elections, drawing parallels to the BJP’s Ayodhya Ram Temple campaign.