Puri the only 'Jagannath Dham': Bengal devotees

The naming of the recently constructed Jagannath Temple at Digha as 'Jagannath Dham' by the West Bengal government seems not to have made any dent in the devotion of pilgrims from the neighbouring state who participated in large numbers at this year's world famous Rath Yatra at Puri which they unequivocally hailed as the 'only' Jagannath Dham.

- ARINDAM GANGULY, OP

Joyeeta Roy, a regular attendee of the Rath Yatra at Srikshetra, said Puri will always remain the true Dham. “There is a profound historical, spiritual, and cultural sanctity here that cannot be recreated elsewhere. Puri is one of the Char Dhams established by Adi Shankaracharya—making it a cornerstone of Hindu pilgrimage and faith,” she said.

“The divine presence of Lord Jagannath in Puri isn't just symbolic—it is eternal, living, and sustained by centuries of seva, rituals, and spiritual energy that vibrates through every stone of this sacred land,” Roy said.

She went on to add that the beautiful temple at Digha might have been attracting devotees, but, “a Dham is not about architecture or tourism; it is about divine legacy. And that legacy, that living soul of devotion, breathes in Puri alone,” she added.