Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, June 8, 2025, Kolkata: The newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha has emerged as a point of political contention in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 elections. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently announced that offerings—referred to as “prasad”—from the Digha temple would be distributed to households across the state starting June 17. The initiative is being carried out through the state’s ‘Duare Ration’ (door-to-door ration) scheme, with arrangements being coordinated by Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs). Sweet shops in each locality have been contacted to prepare the boxes, which will include traditional Bengali sweets like pera and gaja, along with images of the temple.
This announcement has triggered a sharp reaction from Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who has questioned the authenticity of the offerings being described as prasad. Speaking to the media on Friday, Adhikari alleged that the state government is misrepresenting locally sourced sweets as temple prasad, thereby hurting the sentiments of Hindu devotees. He stated that although Rs 20 per box has been allocated for the initiative, the content does not originate from the temple, calling it “demeaning to Hindu dharma.” He urged people to treat the contents as ordinary sweets and not as religious offerings.
In response to the criticism, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has defended the initiative. State Information and Culture Minister Indranil Sen refuted Adhikari’s claims, asserting that the prasad will indeed be sourced from the Jagannath Temple and distributed with proper religious consideration. Sen emphasized that the program is intended to allow access to temple offerings for those unable to travel to Digha. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicizing a community outreach effort and undermining the Chief Minister’s inclusive development initiatives, including her contributions to other religious sites like Dakshineswar, Kalighat, and Kankalitala.
Sen further claimed that the BJP’s criticism is a deliberate attempt to downplay the state government’s work. He reiterated that the Chief Minister’s intention was to provide a symbolic religious connection to all households, especially those who cannot personally visit the temple.
The Jagannath Temple in Digha, located in the Purba Medinipur district, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in May 2025. The temple, a significant new religious site in Bengal, has quickly become a focal point in the evolving political narrative of the state.
