TMC’s Kunal Ghosh Clarifies on Digha Jagannath Dham, Says It Deserves Recognition

By A Staff Reporter

Kolkata, June 11 — Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh on Tuesday addressed the controversy surrounding the naming of a temple in Digha as Jagannath Dham, asserting that the move is not intended to diminish the religious and cultural significance of the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.

“We respect the Jagannath Temple of Puri, but that does not mean Digha does not have its own Jagannath Dham,” said Ghosh. “The word ‘Dham’ means ‘residence’. Since Lord Jagannath resides in this temple, it is also called Jagannath Dham.”

The statement comes amid growing criticism from various quarters over the perceived attempt to replicate the Puri temple’s sanctity and title in West Bengal’s coastal town of Digha, where a newly built temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath is gaining attention.

Ghosh emphasized that the naming is purely spiritual and cultural, not political. “Just as there are multiple temples dedicated to various deities across India with similar names, Digha’s Jagannath Dham is simply a place where devotees can offer prayers and connect spiritually,” he explained.