In a boost to tourism in West Bengal, the newly inaugurated Jagannath Dham in the coastal town of Digha is drawing massive crowds.

In the first 15 days, an estimated 20 lakh people visited the temple, according to ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), which manages the temple. “The temple is a major attraction, and we are witnessing incredibly long queues. In the last 15 days alone, approximately 20 lakh, or two million people, have visited this sacred place,” Radharaman Das, vice-president of ISKCON, told The Indian Express.

Despite the controversy in Odisha over the naming of the temple as Jagannath Dham, most of the visitors are from the neighbouring state.

The BJP government in Odisha had asked the West Bengal government to drop ‘dham’ from the temple’s name, saying ‘Jagannath Dham’ holds a unique and sacrosanct identity linked to Puri and using the term for any other temple or location other than the 12th-century temple in Puri hurts the sentiments of millions of devotees.

“Interestingly, between 60 to 70 per cent of the devotees visiting Jagannath Dham are from Odisha. The devotion to Lord Jagannath transcends any perceived conflict. All are united in their bhakti, Das said, adding the long queues resemble those at Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh.

Some attribute the visitors’ rush to the temple’s “strategic location”.

“Pilgrims visiting the revered Chandreshwar Mahadev Jyotirlinga in Odisha are now extending their trip to Digha to experience the beauty of the coastline and pay their respects at the newly built Jagannath Dham,” said Das.

The temple Trust said the “vibrant, spiritual” atmosphere, with nightly kirtans are attracting thousands of people.
Suprakash Giri, a member of the Trust and TMC chairperson of Contai Municipality, said the temple’s success is a “significant win” for Bengal’s tourism sector. “The narrative initiated by the BJP government in Odisha appears to be politically motivated. On the ground, we are witnessing a remarkable influx of visitors from Odisha,” he said.

“Previously, visitors would typically stay in Digha for two days. Now, the hotel bookings are extended to four days or more, thanks to this magnificent new temple. A temple of this scale, spanning acres of land, is unprecedented in recent decades. Currently, we are facilitating darshan (viewing of the deity), and we anticipate even larger crowds once devotees are permitted to offer prasad (sacred food),” Giri added.

Notably, a few religious leaders, scholars, and the Odisha government have been protesting the use of “dham” for the Digha temple. Odisha’s Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has even threatened legal action against the West Bengal government for it. There were also claims made in Odisha that the sacred neem wood, used for the idols in the Puri temple during the Nabakalebara ritual, was illicitly used to carve the idols for the Digha temple. While these claims were later refuted, they initially added significant fuel to the controversy.

Some in Odisha viewed the construction and naming of the Digha temple as a politically motivated move by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, potentially aimed at appealing to Hindu voters in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had hit back at Odisha’s objections, accusing the neighboring state of “jealousy” and alleging that Bengalis were being targeted in BJP-governed states.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court, earlier this week, agreed to hear a petition alleging “irregularities” in the administration and functioning of the Digha temple.

In the petition, Kaustav Bagchi, a lawyer, claimed that the temple is being operated under the guise of a private trust even as the address listed for donations is that of the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), a government agency.

The petitioner sought an investigation into how a trust can legally use the premises and resources of a state-run body.

The Jagannath Dham temple, inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 30, is modelled after the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. Built in the traditional Kalinga architectural style, the temple was developed at a cost of Rs 250 crore by the state government.