A day before the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati on Thursday said the Jagannath temple constructed at Digha, West Bengal, by the Mamata Banerjee government lacked religious sanctity and was driven more by commercial interests than spiritual devotion.
Speaking to reporters in Puri, the Hindu spiritual leader said: “The highest number of devotees visiting Puri come from West Bengal. They occupy most of the hotels, and the local economy of Puri largely revolves around these devotees. Even many traditional priests depend on pilgrims from Bengal.”
Mr. Saraswati said, “The intention of Mamata Banerjee appears to ensure that the flow of income remains within West Bengal, rather than benefiting Odisha. There is no real sense of religiosity here — it is all about money.”
The recently constructed Jagannath temple in the coastal town of Digha and its consecration ceremony held a couple of months ago has stirred a controversy.
The Odisha government, along with cultural and religious organisations, had objected to the naming of the Digha complex as Jagannath Dham, arguing that the title ‘Dham’ is traditionally reserved for Puri, one of the four most sacred pilgrimage sites of Hindus.
Further controversy emerged over the use of neem wood for crafting the idols at the Digha temple. Allegations surfaced claiming that leftover neem wood from Puri’s Nabakalebara ceremony had been diverted for use in the Digha temple. However, an investigation by the Odisha government found no evidence of any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, three majestic chariots have been placed in front of the 12th Century temple. Over a million devotees are likely to turn up for the annual celebration on Friday.
Published – June 27, 2025 12:11 am IST
