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News18
13 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
West Bengal Govt Distributes Jagannath Prasad, BJP Questions HIDCO's Role Over Fund Allocation
Last Updated: The West Bengal government is distributing prasad from the new Jagannathdham temple to over 10 million households. The BJP alleges misuse of HIDCO funds. Amid allegations that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government diverted funds through the state-owned HIDCO, the West Bengal administration has begun distributing 'prasad' from the newly inaugurated Jagannathdham temple in Digha to more than 10 million households across the state. The BJP leadership has alleged that public funds were routed through the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HIDCO) for this initiative. 'At the gracious initiative of Smt. @MamataOfficial, the divine Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath from Digha is now reaching homes across Bengal. From today until 27th June, you can collect your sacred Prasad box from your nearest ration shop," the TMC posted on X. 'The mandate of the HIDCO is to construct buildings for the government. This is why we did not say anything when it constructed the temple. But how can it spend such an amount to distribute prasad to households?" asked Jagannath Chattopadhyay, West Bengal BJP general secretary. The BJP has hinted at legal action, saying it will go to court for the source of money spent on sweets, not religious misrepresentation. Chattopadhyay stated that the state government has already allocated Rs 32 crore to various district magistrates and the Kolkata municipal commissioner for procuring sweets like goja and peda. An additional Rs 10 crore is expected to be disbursed, taking the total to Rs 42 crore, which will be spent by HIDCO to distribute sweets as prasad to the people of the state. Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Vinod Bansal called it 'cultural misappropriation". The BJP also accused the state of politicising Hindu festivals. It said that the 'government is misusing public money for religious optics" and further demanded an investigation into HIDCO's role. According to the sources, the BJP may also write to the Election Commission, seeking an audit of the funds used. The authenticity of the prasad has also been questioned. BJP leaders alleged that the sweets are being made by minority-owned units. 'This is not traditional prasad, but commercially prepared sweets — misleading and disrespectful," the BJP said. CM Banerjee had directed that prasad from the temple be distributed to people across the state during its inauguration on April 30. The distribution is carried out through the public distribution system, which typically provides subsidised food grains. On certain occasions, TMC leaders have been seen delivering the prasad door to door. Each packet of prasad, which costs Rs 20, contains two sweets and a photograph of the temple along with the deities — Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The temple, built over 20 acres of land, resembles the 12th-century famous Jagannath temple of Puri, and there has been a controversy over the use of the phrase 'Jagannath Dham".
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Time of India
Ahead of Rath Yatra, Puri's Jagannath Temple launches official app: Here's everything you can check
In a landmark blend of spirituality and technology, the Puri district administration has launched the Shree Jagannatha Dham mobile app, ushering in a new era for devotees visiting the sacred 12th-century Jagannath Temple. As religious tourism embraces digital ease, the app is designed to simplify pilgrimages by offering real-time updates, ritual schedules, and navigation tools that help devotees experience the sanctity of Puri with greater clarity and comfort. The app, unveiled by Puri Collector and District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain on Friday, comes just in time for the Rath Yatra preparations. Announcing the launch on X (formerly Twitter), Swain wrote, 'Jai Jagannath. A New App, Shree Jagannatha Dham, has been launched for the facilitation of Devotees. The services include—exact Niti status & timings, tentative waiting time at queues, arrangements for Rath Yatra and all special occasions.' — dm_puri (@dm_puri) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo About the App Swain explained that the name Jagannatha Dham was a deliberate choice, reflecting the deep-rooted sentiment that Puri is the original and most revered of India's char dhams. In an interview with TOI, he revealed that the app name was chosen because Puri represents the genuine Jagannatha Dham. The app promises to elevate the spiritual experience for pilgrims, particularly during major events like Rath Yatra. It provides details on daily ritual schedules, real-time waiting durations for temple queues, and logistical arrangements for major festivals. Swain assured that the app will not be limited to the festival season—it will function year-round as a comprehensive digital companion for tourists and devotees. Looking ahead, the district administration plans to roll out more features, including a grievance redressal section, GPS-enabled navigation to temples and public facilities, darshan schedules, Mahaprasad availability, and information on donations. The app will also help users discover nearby religious landmarks and suitable accommodation options. Users can also find the directions for their 4-wheeler and 2-wheeler parking places on the app under the tab 'Parking'.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Amid name row with Bengal, Odisha launches ‘Jagannath Dham' app for Puri shrine visitors
Bhubaneswar: Govt on Friday launched an official mobile application titled 'Shree Jagannatha Dham' for the Jagannath Temple, a move that comes amid the ongoing debate over the Digha shrine's nomenclature. "The application provides information about ritual schedules, queue waiting duration, Rath Yatra preparations and other special events. Additional functionalities are being developed and will be added in future updates," Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain told TOI. He explained that selecting 'Jagannath Dham' as the application's name reflects the sentiments of Jagannath devotees, who consider Puri as the original 'Jagannath dham' among the 'char dhams' in India. "The application's name was chosen because Puri represents the genuine Jagannath dham," Swain said. A controversy had erupted on April 30 when West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had designated the newly-constructed Jagannath Temple in Digha as 'Jagannath Dham', drawing sharp criticism from various quarters, particularly from Odisha. Regarding the timing of the launch, he highlighted the upcoming Rath Yatra celebration on June 27. According to the district collector, the application will continue to operate beyond Rath Yatra festival, with additional features planned specifically for the event. Users can locate public facilities, temples and navigate different routes to their desired destinations. "During other times, the application will serve as a tourist guide in Puri, providing information about daily ritual timings, darshan schedules, Mahaprasad availability, and donation procedures at the shrine. Users can also find nearby religious sites, accommodation options and other facilities through the application. We will include a grievance redressal feature soon," Swain said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
India Today
28-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Why Odisha govt wants to trademark Jagannath terminologies
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is likely to find some political satisfaction in the Odisha government's move to secure trademark rights over key religious terms associated with the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri. The decision comes on the heels of a sharp controversy over the naming of a new temple in West Bengal's Digha as Jagannath Dham—a row that Adhikari, who is leader of the Opposition in the Bengal legislative assembly, had vocally amplified, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of 'cultural appropriation'.In a significant cultural and legal counter-move, the Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government in Odisha has formally initiated steps to trademark a cluster of terms intrinsically tied to Jagannath worship and the spiritual geography of Puri. These include 'Jagannath Dham', 'Shree Mandira', 'Purushottam Kshetra', 'Neelachal Dham', 'Bada Danda', 'Mahaprasad' and 'Neela Chakra'.advertisementThe development not only strengthens Odisha's cultural sovereignty over the Jagannath tradition but also raises the possibility of legal friction with the Bengal government, which has thus far remained silent on Odisha's Padhee, chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), confirmed the decision and said the process of finalising the list of protected terms was underway. 'Once we obtain trademark rights, any unauthorised use of these expressions will be legally actionable,' he stated. According to Padhee, these names were not mere labels but sacred expressions deeply embedded in the liturgy, history and ritual fabric of the Jagannath tradition, many of them traceable to ancient Hindu trigger was the inauguration last month of the Digha Jagannath temple by Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who described the site as 'Jagannath Dham'. This provoked sharp reactions in Odisha, with the state accusing Bengal of diminishing the religious and cultural sanctity of the original Jagannath Dham in Puri—one of the 'Char Dhams' in use of 'Jagannath Dham' in any context other than Puri undermines centuries of sacred tradition,' said an official from what may be viewed as both a religious and political escalation, Majhi had written to Mamata, seeking an explanation and urging restraint. In fact, one of the servitors from the Puri temple, who had led the consecration rituals in Digha, and was also accused of supplying unused wood from Nabakalebar for the deities in the new temple, was move to trademark temple terminology is now being steered through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Union ministry of commerce and industry. The SJTA is compiling archival documents, historical records and scriptural evidence to support their application, which aims to protect the exclusivity of the Jagannath tradition from unauthorised usage or plan has won the support of Odisha's religious scholars, cultural historians and even the titular Maharaj of Puri, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, who chairs the Jagannath Temple Managing parallel with this cultural assertion, preparations for the grand Rath Yatra, scheduled for June 27, are on in full swing. At a high-level meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, several operational decisions were taken to ensure the smooth execution of the annual chariot festival. These included the formation of dedicated 'Pahandi Dalas' (teams responsible for carrying idols onto the chariots), the enforcement of restrictions on non-servitors accessing chariots, and a complete ban on mobile phones atop the committee also reviewed security measures around the sacred Ratna Bhandar (the temple's treasury), and debated the relocation of the donation box (Hundi) to prevent crowding within the sanctum sanctorum. Furthermore, a proposal will be sent to the urban development department to limit the height of buildings around the Shree Mandir and Gundicha Temple, aiming to preserve ritual purity and visual the Rath Yatra approaching, emotions around Lord Jagannath and his place in India's spiritual landscape are running high. Odisha's decision to trademark sacred terminology is not merely about legal protection; it is an assertion of identity in the face of what is seen as cultural overreach by a neighbouring state. The controversy has also offered Adhikari a potent narrative—one that allows him to accuse the Bengal government of not just political opportunism but of desecrating centuries-old spiritual to India Today MagazineTrending Reel advertisement
News18
18-05-2025
- General
- News18
Family Eating Jagannath Mahaprasad On Table Sparks Row; Puri Temple Authorities Issue Appeal
Last Updated: Considering local sentiments and religious beliefs, the temple authorities have also instructed hotels in Puri to caution their guests against such practices. A family of 10 sparked controversy by eating Mahaprasad from the Jagannath shrine in Odisha's Puri on a dining table, prompting temple authorities to issue an appeal to devotees. Mahaprasad is the sacred food offered to Lord Jagannath, the deity of the 12th-century temple, and has traditionally been served and consumed while sitting on the ground. The family members, including children and elderly individuals, were seen seated at a dining table in a beach resort in Puri as a priest served them the Mahaprasad. After a man confronted the family, a woman insisted they had inquired beforehand before choosing to eat at the table. The video then shows the man turning to the priest and demanding to know why he permitted it. ଭିଡ଼ିଓ ରେ ଦେଖନ୍ତୁ ସେ ହୋଟେଲର କର୍ମଚାରୀ ମନା କରିବା ସତ୍ତ୍ବେ ସେମାନେ କିପରି ଡାଇନିଂ ଟେବୁଲ ଉପେର ମହାପ୍ରସାଦ ବାଢ଼ି ଗୋଡ଼ ହଲେଇ ମୋବାଇଲ ଚଲାଇ ପାଉଛନ୍ତି..ଆଉ ତହୁଁ ବଡ଼ ସେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ମହାଶୟ ଯିଏ ମହାପ୍ରସାଦ ତାଙ୍କୁ ବାଢ଼ିକି ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି।ଆଉ ସେ ଦାଢ଼ିଆ ବାବା ସବୁ ଦେଖି ମଧ୍ଯ ଚୁପ ହୋଇ ଠିଆ ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି।ଦୋଷ କାହାକୁ ଦେବେ? — 🦋šrαdhα🦋 (@princess_sradha) May 16, 2025 Temple Authorities Step In The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said that it was aware of the video showing a family eating the Mahaprasad on the table, which was against tradition and had evoked a 'reaction" from the devotees. They stated that eating Mahaprasad at the table goes against tradition and urged devotees to uphold the temple's centuries-old customs by eating it on the floor. 'It is clarified from the side of the temple that the divine Mahaprasad of the Lord is worshiped in the form of Annabrahma. The ritual tradition of eating Mahaprasad sitting on the ground has existed since time immemorial. Therefore, all devotees are humbly requested to refrain from activities that are against the tradition, like eating Mahaprasad at the dining table," the statement read. — Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) May 17, 2025 Considering local sentiments and religious beliefs, the temple authorities have also instructed hotels in Puri to caution their guests against such practices. First Published: May 18, 2025, 12:38 IST
