Built on the lines of the famous 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri, the Digha Jagannath temple has also attracted controversy, with the West Bengal temple authorities using the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ for the temple. File.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
A fresh controversy has erupted over the distribution of prasad (holy offering) at the newly constructed Jagannath temple at Digha, with Opposition parties alleging the West Bengal government was distributing “sweets from local shops” as ‘prasad’ of the temple.
The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, accused the West Bengal government of playing with the sentiments of Hindu devotees. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while inaugurating the temple in April 2025, had directed her government that prasad from the temple should be distributed across the State.
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In accordance with the Chief Minister’s directive, the District Magistrate distributes prasad through the ‘Duare Sarkar’ scheme of doorstep delivery of rations under the Public Distribution System.
“All District Magistrates were ordered to distribute prasad through Duare ration. The boxes of sweets being bought from the local sweet shop is basically demeaning Hindu dharma,” Mr. Adhikari said.
The BJP leader also said the State government had allocated ₹20 for a packet of prasad. He had nothing against the allocation of funds for the distribution of prasad, Mr. Adhikari said, but added that the way sweets from local shops were being distributed as prasad amounted to hurting religious sentiments.
The West Bengal government was quick to dismiss the allegations raised by the BJP leadership. State’s Minister for Information and Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen said the allegations made by the Leader of the Opposition were a “pack of lies”.
“Everyone does not have the resources to visit the Jagannath temple [in Digha] and have the prasad offered at the temple, and that’s why it was planned to distribute prasad to every family of the State. The BJP is now trying to stoop low and demean that,” Mr. Sen said.
The BJP had become “scared of the enthusiasm and frenzy around the Jagannath temple”, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh said, attributing the comments by Opposition leaders to this.
More than 20 lakh people have visited the temple in the month since its doors were opened for common visitors on April 30, according to the organisers.
Built on the lines of the famous 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri, the Digha Jagannath temple has also attracted controversy, with the West Bengal temple authorities using the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ for the temple, a move opposed by the neighbouring State of Odisha.
The Digha Jagannath temple project, conceived and executed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a cost of ₹250 crore to the State exchequer, has been witnessing large crowds of devotees over the past several weeks.
Published – June 07, 2025 11:53 pm IST
