The Lord of the Tides

As Digha emerges as a new coastal home for Jagannath, the age-old bond between the deity and the sea gains fresh momentum-bridging history, ritual, and a rising tide of devotion

- By PRIYAM MARIK

The roar of the Bay of Bengal is never far when speaking of Jagannath. For centuries, the ocean has played a companion, a witness, and a ritual partner to the enigmatic deity revered across Eastern India and beyond. In Puri, the sea is sacred — a cleansing force, a metaphysical portal, and the site of rituals predating even the grand chariots of Ratha Yatra. And now, as Jagannath finds a new spiritual home in Digha — a coastal town where sea, tourism, and culture converge — a compelling new chapter is being added to this age-old relationship between deity and tide.

The Sea Beckons the Lord

Digha, once a sleepy fishing village known as Beerkul, has long attracted those seeking respite in the embrace of the sea. Its identity as one of Bengal's most popular beach destinations is relatively recent, shaped by British surveys and post-independence planning. However, despite its scenic charm and proximity to Kolkata, Digha's full potential remained untapped. The installation of the monumental Jagannath temple, which now towers 65 metres above sea level and commands reverence from pilgrims and tourists alike has already marked a new beginning for the town. With the Jagannath Dham as its centrepiece, Digha steps into a long-overdue resurgence from its years on the periphery of Bengal's developmental imagination.

The Digha temple is a 21st-century marvel. Built in the Kalinga style, with pinkish-white sandstone transported from Rajasthan, it marks a fascinating continuum: the sea that once watched over the Lord in Odisha now receives him in Bengal as well. The choice of Digha is both geographical and emotional. Located near the Odisha-Bengal border, it represents a linguistic, cultural, and devotional bridge — uniting the Jagannath traditions of Odisha with Bengal's own spiritual imagination.