Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday alleged that his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee is yet to respond to his letter which he had written over a month ago requesting her to refrain from branding the Digha Jagannath Temple as “Jagannath Dham”.
Majhi argues that India’s four Dhams known as Char Dham were designated by Adi Shankaracharya and no individual or government has the authority to alter the same.
On May 6, Majhi had written a letter to Mamata Banerjee requesting her to reconsider use of the tag “Dham” for naming the Digha Jagannath temple. He argued that “Jagannath Dham” holds a sacred identity uniquely linked to Puri and using the term elsewhere might hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees and also dilute Puri’s heritage.
Majhi says Mamata showing arrogance
“I had written a letter urging the Bengal chief minister to refrain from branding the Digha Jagannath Temple as Jagannath Dham. However, I have not received any official response from her. From her media statements, it appears the demand has not yet been accepted,” Majhi said at a press conference, held two days ahead of Odisha BJP government’s first anniversary in office.
“She is being arrogant. The people will respond to this refusal and her attempt to brand Digha as ‘Jagannath Dham’. There cannot be a second Jagannath Dham,” the Odisha CM further said.
Odisha CM attends Snana Utsav of Lord Jagannath in Puri ahead of Rath Yatra
Meanwhile, the Odisha Chief Minister participated in the Snana Utsav of Lord Jagannath in Puri on Wednesday, which is a major religious ceremony ahead of the annual Rath Yatra festival, which is slated to commence on June 27.
This year, the Jagannath Rath Yatra will commence on June 27. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated on the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha (waxing moon fortnight) in Ashadh.
The Pahandi rituals, considered a vital component of the Rath Yatra, involve the ceremonial procession of the deities–Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra–from the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple to their respective chariots. The elaborate ritual accompanies traditional chants, gongs, and conches as the deities are brought out grandly and reverentially.
Meanwhile, the construction of Lord Jagannath’s chariot for the annual Rath Yatra festival commenced in Puri, Odisha. The work began on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya, April 30, marking the start of the preparations for the revered festival.
