A wave of spiritual fervor swept across the seaside town of Digha on Wednesday, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the newly built Jagannath Dham, a replica of the iconic Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri, on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Trithiya.
Located around 350 kilometres from the Puri Temple, the newly constructed Jagannath Dham in Digha is built on a sprawling 24-acre plot, with an investment of nearly Rs 250 crore.
The temple’s consecration ceremony unfolded amid religious rituals and cultural performances, while sanctified water from various revered pilgrimage sites across the country was brought to Digha for rituals and the anointing of the deities involved 108 diverse materials. Following this, the devotees got their first glimpse of Lord Jagannath, enshrined within the temple’s ‘Garbhagriha’.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, visibly moved by the spiritual atmosphere, performed the aarati, invoking the blessings of Lord Jagannath upon “Ma, Mati, Manush” – her cherished representation of the people of Bengal.
“May the soil of Bengal be blessed by the touch of the feet of the Lord, Lord Sri Sri Jagannathdev,” CM Banerjee prayed, wishing for global peace.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister thanked the artisans, engineers, and workers who dedicated three years to realising this monumental project. “I would like to thank all those who have come here for the inaugural programme. People from all religions have come here,” she said.
Mamata Banerjee dedicated the new Jagannath Dham to “Maa-Mati-Manush,” and expressed hope that, “In the coming years, the temple would evolve as a major pilgrimage site.”
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CM Banerjee had on Tuesday said, “Today when they (priests) asked me about my gotra, I told them I do not use my own gotra while offering puja. I offer puja using the ‘Ma Mati Manush’ gotra. I want them (Ma, Mati and Manush) to remain happy.”
Meanwhile, the CM is planning to hold an annual ‘Ratha Yatra’ in Digha, further solidifying the town’s emergence as a significant pilgrimage and tourism hub.
Political leaders, prominent figures from West Bengal’s music and film industry alongside spiritual leaders from Puri’s Jagannath Temple, ISKCON, Adyapeath Mandir, Dakshineswar, and Belur Math, as well as those representing various faiths were also present at the inauguration.
The Digha Dham showcases the traditional Kalinga architectural style. Built using red sandstone, sourced from Bansi Paharpur from Rajasthan, the structure incorporates key features like the — Singhadwar, Byaghradwar, Hastidwar, and Ashwadwar — welcoming devotees from all directions.
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The temple complex houses a dedicated shrine for Goddess Lakshmi and a Bhogshala, where sacred offerings will be prepared for Lord Jagannath.
“I had planned my visit to Digha in advance,…when I came here it was totally transformed. Today we also got darshan of Jagannath, it reminded me of my Puri trip..,” said one of the devotees Purnima Das Choudhury.
