Puri Jagannath temple servitors warned against taking part in Digha temple inauguration

As West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to inaugurate a Jagannath Temple at Digha on Wednesday, several servitor groups of the Puri Jagannath Temple have opposed the event and cautioned their members against engaging in the ceremonies.

The groups of Puri servitors, such as the Suar Mahasuar Nijog that arranges the food offerings (bhog) and the Puspalaka Nijog that adorns the deities, have placed notices around the Puri temple advising servitors against engaging in any rituals at the Digha Jagannath Temple.

“We welcome the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple at Digha. There are many Jagannath temples across the world, but the rituals of the original temple, which are performed as per mythology, should be preserved. If all the rituals of Puri Jagannath temple are performed everywhere, the significance of the original temple will be diluted,” said Padmanava Mahasuar, president of the Suar Mahasuar Nijog.

In its poster, the Suar Nijog said its members should not participate in the preparation of bhog at any temple other than the Puri temple. The Puspalaka Nijog condemned the promotional slogan for the Digha Jagannath Temple that says “no need to go to Puri to see Jagannath Dham and sea” and “Jagannath Dham is here now”. It has warned servitors against participating in rituals like aarti and the dressing of the deity on the day of the inauguration or thereafter.

“Any member found defying the order will face strict action,” read the notice signed by the secretary of Puspalaka Nijog, Harekrushna Singhari.

The 213-foot-high temple located in Digha, crafted as a precise duplicate of the 12th-century Puri Jagannath Temple, has been constructed following the Kalingan architectural style with sandstone. Similar to the Puri temple, it honors Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, and Goddess Mahalaxmi.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal is set to inaugurate the temple on Akshaya Tritiya, regarded as a favorable time for new ventures. The temple project, unveiled in 2019, commenced construction in May 2022 under the guidance of the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO).