Odisha govt clarifies no timber from Puri’s Jagannath shrine used in Digha temple

The Jagannath temple at Digha, West Bengal
| Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri

The Odisha government on Monday (May 5, 2025) said surplus sacred timber used in sculpting the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra was not sourced from the Puri Jagannath Temple.

For the past few days, a controversy has been simmering over allegations that surplus sacred timber from the Jagannath Temple in Puri was used to carve idols for the new Jagannath Temple in Digha. The issue has drawn strong objections from intellectuals, religious leaders, and devotees alike.

Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan clarified that no surplus timber from the Puri temple was used elsewhere. He cited findings from an investigation conducted by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, which found no evidence to support the allegation.

The controversy began after Ramakrishna Dasmohapatra, a prominent sevayat (traditional priest) of the Puri temple, claimed in an interview with a Bengali TV channel that timber not used during the Nabakalebara ritual had been sent to Digha.

Also read | Servitor served notice over ‘use’ of Puri Jagannath temple sacred wood to make idols in Digha shrine

However, Mr. Harichandan said that Maharana Sevaks — responsible for crafting the idols during Nabakalebara —categorically denied that any leftover timber had been transported elsewhere. Sudarshan Maharana, who sculpted the idols for the Digha temple, also confirmed that the wood used did not come from Puri.

“Mr. Dasmohapatra later told the investigating team that his statement was a slip of the tongue,” the minister added.

The Minister said the State government would formally request the West Bengal government to drop the name “Jagannath Dham” for the newly built temple in Digha. Devotees have objected to the use of the term ‘Dham’, pointing out that, in Hindu tradition, there are only four major religious centres referred to as Dhams, with Puri being one of them.

Also read | Devotees, priests from Odisha demand removal of ‘Jagannath Dham’ label from Digha temple

There are reports suggesting that the West Bengal government has already removed the word Dham from official references to the Digha temple.

It is to be noted that over 50 sevayats from Puri had attended the consecration ceremony of the Digha Jagannath temple, which has been constructed at an estimated cost of ₹250 crore.