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States » EastPosted at: May 6 2025 1:41PM


Odisha Govt to urge WB govt to remove ‘Jagannath Dham’ and ‘Mahodadhi’ names from Digha

Bhubaneswar, May 6 (UNI) The Odisha government will soon write to the West Bengal government, requesting the removal of the names "Jagannath Dham" and "Mahodadhi" from locations in Digha, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said.
Harichandan stated that referring to the Digha Jagannath temple as "Jagannath Dham" is incorrect, and the Odisha government will initiate steps to address the issue.
A formal letter will be sent to the West Bengal government on behalf of the Odisha government, asking for the removal of both names from the site.
The Law Minister's remarks came after Sri Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator Aravind Padhee submitted the findings of an internal investigation committee to the Odisha government.
The investigation focused on the controversy surrounding the naming of the Digha Jagannath temple as "Jagannath Dham."
The report covered various aspects, including the naming of the Digha temple, the involvement of Jagannath temple servitors in its construction, and the use of surplus neem wood (daru) for the idol.
The report was presented to Law Minister Harichandan on Monday.
A three-day marathon meeting was conducted by the temple administration with key stakeholders, including the Maharana Sevak, temple security officer, Dayapati officer, and others who visited the Digha temple.
Following the meetings, the administration reviewed all aspects and submitted detailed proposals and a comprehensive report to the state government.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will be briefed, and the report will be thoroughly reviewed before determining the next course of action, Harichandan said.
He emphasized that while building a Jagannath temple anywhere is not an issue, there is a lack of policy coherence in many places.
To address this, the Shri Mandir administration will soon issue guidelines to all Jagannath temples in the state regarding the daily rituals of Mahaprabhu.
The Law Minister reiterated that there are only four recognized Dhams in the country, and therefore, the term "Dham" should not be used for any other location.
He also noted that while there is no rule preventing servitors from visiting other places for worship, guidelines will soon be issued on what servitors can or cannot disclose publicly about the temple's rituals.
The investigation report also clarified that claims about using surplus neem wood from Puri for idol construction at Digha are false. The Niyogs (servitor groups) confirmed that the neem wood (daru) remains safely stored in the wood house.
It was also revealed that, following a 1995–96 government decision, some neem wood is currently held at the residence of certain Rahalatapati Niyog members.
A five-member committee has been formed to collect and count this wood and return it to the official wood house.
In addition, the temple administration had issued a notice to the Dayatapati Niyog Secretary following a complaint related to the incident.
While the secretary has submitted his statement, he has been directed to provide a formal reply within seven days explaining why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
UNI DP ARN
Tags: #Odisha Govt to urge WB govt to remove ‘Jagannath Dham’ and ‘Mahodadhi’ names from Digha
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