PTI, DIGHA, APRIL 30, 2025 Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday inaugurated the newly built Jagannath Temple in the sea resort town of Digha on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya. Mamata thanked the workers and engineers who built the structure in three years. “I would like to thank all those who have come here for the inaugural programme. People from all religions have come here,” she said. The Chief Minister said that in the coming years, the temple would evolve as a major pilgrimage site.
The consecration ceremony was held with great grandeur, with sacred water from various pilgrimage sites brought to the temple for the rituals. Several celebrities and prominent figures from the state’s music and film industry, along with political leaders, were present at the event.
“The inauguration of Digha’s Jagannath Temple stands as a glorious testament to Bengal’s enduring devotion and rich cultural heritage. Every intricately carved stone, and every prayer that shall rise from its sanctum, will embody the deep faith, unity, and enduring spirit of our people,” Mamata said, ahead of the event.
On Tuesday, the puja and Maha Yajna were held inside a temporary hut set up in front of the main temple of Lord Jagannath. A total of 57 devotees from Puri’s Jagannath Temple and 17 monks from ISKCON participated in it. Interestingly, former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, along with his wife Rinku Majumdar, visited the temple. The Chief Minister had an informal meeting with Ghosh.
The former MP, who was invited to the temple’s inaugural programme, arrived in Digha around 5:16 pm and was welcomed by state Power Minister Aroop Biswas and TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh. The BJP leader offered prayers at the temple before meeting the Chief Minister in a building located on the same campus. The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and spoke about the grandeur of the newly constructed temple.
“We should keep all the differences outside before entering this premises. There is no difference between two human beings here,” Ghosh told reporters after exiting the temple.
In addition to Ghosh, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had also invited senior BJP leaders, including party state president Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, to the inauguration. However, both Adhikari and Majumdar chose to skip the event.
