Kolkata: Following a letter from Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking intervention, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced the decision to drop the word ‘Dham’ from the ‘Digha Jagannath Dham’ complex in Purba Medinipur district.

Adhikari made the announcement in the presence of Puri Lok Sabha MP Sambit Patra, who was in Kolkata to personally hand over Majhi’s letter.

The West Bengal Chief Minister further said the complex will be redesignated as ‘Shri Jagannath Cultural Centre’, and rituals will be conducted in accordance with Sanatana Dharma. He added a formal notification regarding the change will be issued within two days.

Sambit Patra thanked the West Bengal Chief Minister for what he described as a significant decision.

In his letter, Majhi had stated naming the temple complex as ‘Digha Jagannath Dham’ had sparked concern among devotees, religious scholars, and various socio-cultural organisations.

He emphasised the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ is intrinsically linked to the sacred abode of Shree Jagannath at Puri, one of the revered Char Dhams of the country. “The nomenclature carries immense spiritual, historical, and cultural significance and occupies a unique place in the faith and consciousness of countless devotees,” Majhi wrote.

Majhi had urged his counterpart to ensure an appropriate revision of the name by dropping the word ‘Dham’, adding such a step would strengthen the enduring bonds of goodwill, cultural affinity, and mutual respect between the people of Odisha and West Bengal.

Earlier, Sambit Patra had also written to the Odisha Chief Minister, requesting him to take up the matter with the West Bengal government. Majhi had additionally written to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue.

The Digha Jagannath temple complex was inaugurated on April 30, 2025. The shrine was constructed by the West Bengal government at an estimated cost of ₹250 crore during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as Chief Minister.