Amid 'Anti-Hindu' Allegations, Mamata Inaugurates Jagannath Temple; BJP Says 'Political' Move

The Digha temple, built by the West Bengal government, is a replica of the 12th-century shrine in Puri, located around 350 km away from Puri. 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee takes part in the sacred 'yajna' at the Lord Jagannath temple at Digha in Purba Medinipur district.

Source : PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended the consecration ceremony of the newly built Jagannath Temple in the seaside tourist town of Digha.

The consecration ceremony of the Jagannath temple was held in the seaside town of Digha on the auspicious occasion of the 'Akshay Trithiya'.

The Digha temple, built by the West Bengal government, is a replica of the 12th-century shrine in Puri, located around 350 km away from Puri. 

VIDEO | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) attends the consecration ceremony of the newly built Jagannath Temple in the seaside tourist town of Digha.

The temple at Digha, a replica of the 12th-century shrine in Puri, Odisha.#DighaJagannathTemple

(Full video… pic.twitter.com/cl00rREvC0

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2025

The temple has been built on a 24-acre plot at a cost of nearly Rs 250 crore. Officials said that sacred water from various pilgrimage destinations has already been brought to the temple for the rituals associated with ‘pran pratistha’.

VIDEO | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) attends the consecration ceremony of the newly built Jagannath Temple in the seaside tourist town of Digha.

The temple at Digha, a replica of the 12th-century shrine in Puri, Odisha.#DighaJagannathTemple

(Full video… pic.twitter.com/cl00rREvC0

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2025

The chief minister who took part in the ‘Maha Yajna’ at the newly built temple during the day said people from all religions attended it.

"You must see this (religion) from the heart. Religion cannot be preached by word of mouth. It is what touches the heart. Religion is people's trust, belief and love," Banerjee told reporters.

How Jagannath Temple Holds Political Significance?

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the inauguration of Jagannath Temple is a grand success.

The consecration ceremony of the Jagannath Temple comes months ahead of the Bengal assembly elections and at a time when there are increased attacks by the opposition in Bengal, led by the BJP, calling Mamata Banerjee as 'anti-Hindu'.

The inauguration of the temple is also seen as TMC's answer to the allegations of being "fake-Hindu" levelled at it by the BJP. 

Soon after the inauguration, BJP leader Amit Malviya hit out at Mamata, saying there were no signs of "devotional enthusiasm". 

This is how Mamata Banerjee appeared at the inauguration of the Jagannath Cultural Centre in Digha. There is no sign of devotional enthusiasm—only a sinister political calculation aimed at salvaging her reputation as an anti-Hindu leader. pic.twitter.com/YrKIitnvkD

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 30, 2025

Malviya shared photos of the Bengal CM, who was seen covering her head during the consecration ceremony. The text on the photo read: "Mamata Banerjee came to the inauguration of the Jagannath Cultural Centre dressed like she was attending an Iftaar event. This is what happens when you're only used to attending Muslim functions."

The construction of the temple in Digha also suggests "competitive communalism" of the TMC and the BJP.