Digha tourism soars as Jagannath Dham welcomes 2 million visitors in 15 days

Indian Express

15-05-2025

Despite ongoing debates over its establishment, the newly inaugurated Jagannath Dham temple in Digha has quickly emerged as a major pilgrimage and tourist destination, drawing massive crowds and giving a strong boost to tourism in West Bengal.
Within just 15 days of its pran pratistha (consecration), the temple has attracted an estimated two million visitors—60 to 70 percent of whom are from neighboring Odisha.
'The temple is a major attraction, and we are witnessing incredibly long queues. In just 15 days, approximately 20 lakh people have visited this sacred place,' said Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) to The Indian Express.
Highlighting the unifying power of faith, he added, 'Interestingly, a significant portion of the devotees, between 60 to 70 percent, are from Odisha. The devotion to Lord Jagannath transcends any perceived conflict; all are united in their bhakti. The lines resemble those at Tirupati Balaji.'
The temple's strategic location has also played a key role in its popularity. 'Pilgrims visiting the revered Chandreshwar Mahadev Jyotirlinga in Odisha are now conveniently extending their trip to Digha, enjoying the coastline and offering prayers at the new Jagannath Dham,' Das said.
Temple trust members describe a vibrant spiritual atmosphere, with nightly kirtans (devotional singing) drawing hundreds of thousands. Many attribute the surge in footfall to the West Bengal government's tourism initiatives, which appear to be paying off despite the intense summer heat. However, the growing number of devotees has also raised concerns about crowd control, as acknowledged by a senior police official.
Suprakash Giri, President of the Purba Medinipur Trinamool Youth Congress Committee and a temple trust member, views the temple's popularity as a win for Bengal's tourism. 'The narrative pushed by the Odisha government appears politically motivated. On the ground, we are witnessing a remarkable influx of visitors from Odisha. This development is a tremendous boost for tourism in Bengal,' he said. 'Earlier, visitors typically stayed in Digha for two days; now, bookings are extending to four days or more. A temple of this scale, spanning acres, hasn't been built in recent decades. We are currently facilitating darshan (viewing of the deity), and expect even larger crowds once prasad (sacred food) offerings are allowed.'
However, the temple has also sparked controversy. Religious leaders, scholars, and the Odisha government have strongly objected to the use of the term 'Dham,' traditionally reserved for Puri, arguing that applying it to another temple could mislead devotees. Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has even threatened legal action against West Bengal over the naming.
Initially, there were allegations from Odisha that sacred neem wood—used in the idols at Puri during the Nabakalebara ritual—was illicitly sourced for the Digha idols. These claims were later refuted, but they added fuel to an already sensitive issue. Some in Odisha have accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of using the temple project as a political tool to appeal to Hindu voters. In response, Banerjee accused Odisha of 'jealousy' and claimed that Bengalis were being unfairly targeted in BJP-ruled states.
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More