Overview
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Jagannath Dham temple in Digha on April 30, 2025, modeled on the iconic Puri Jagannath Temple.
- Built over 20 acres in the Kalinga architectural style, the Rs 250 crore state-funded temple features deities, intricate carvings, and facilities for traditional rituals.
- Puri temple servitor groups and Odisha officials have objected to the use of the title 'Jagannath Dham' and replication of Puri's unique rituals, warning of cultural dilution.
- The Trinamool Congress is leveraging the temple inauguration as a political outreach to Hindu voters ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, mirroring BJP's Ayodhya Ram Temple strategy.
- BJP leader Dilip Ghosh's attendance at the inauguration and meeting with Mamata Banerjee has sparked internal party criticism and speculation about political realignments.