Our Bureau
Puri
The governments of Bengal and Odisha have been in a dispute recently over the controversy around the Jagannath Dham temple which was recently inaugurated in Digha, West Bengal. The government of Odisha has decided that they are going to patent and secure the trademark rights for various words and phrases that are associated with the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
The whole controversy surged when the government of West Bengal decided to name the newly inaugurated temple in Digha as ‘Jagannath Dham’. The Jagannath Temple that is situated in Puri is one of the 4 Dhams i.e., the four sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites considered of utmost importance in India. It has stood tall since the 12th century and now suddenly naming another temple the same has enraged the devotees, religious scholars, priests and politicians in Odisha.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of Bengal has also given a statement asking for the reason as to why her government and their actions are being questioned. She stated that she has nothing but love for Odisha and has always helped them in need so she can’t understand why she is facing such hostility now.
CM Banerjee said, “I have heard that the Daitapati has been questioned for coming to conduct the puja here. They have issued a notification asking them not to come to Jagannath Dham (in West Bengal). Why are they so irked? We all go to Puri. We never question. When I go to Puri, the BJP protests. Why so much jealousy over the Jagannath Dham? When you fall short of potatoes, Bengal supplies. I love Odisha.”
Odisha’s Law Minister, Prithviraj Harichandan however has termed it as title theft and has claimed that all the devotees are condemning this act by the West Bengal government. He said, “The whole world and all the devotees of Lord Jagannath are condemning the cunning way of the title theft initiative. If things will not be resolved properly, we will take legal steps in a bid to protect the Jagannath culture. We are reviewing the matter.”
An official from the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), Arabinda Padhee has given an official statement that they are planning to patent certain words and phrases that are associated with the holy temple. They will be looking to secure words like Mahaprasad (bhog), Srimandir (temple), Shree Jagannath Dham (place), Shreekshetra (place), Purushottam Dham (place) and more.
