VHP moves Cal HC against WB decision to name Digha shrine as ‘Jagannath Dham'
Vishva Hindu Parishad
(VHP) has filed a PIL in Calcutta high court, challenging the West Bengal govt's decision to designate the newly constructed Jagannath temple in Digha as 'Jagannath Dham'.
The VHP, in its petition filed on Wednesday, argued that the term 'dham' holds significant spiritual and historical importance, traditionally reserved for the four ancient 'dhams' — Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameswaram and Puri. These sites are deeply embedded in Hindu theology and have been revered for centuries.
The VHP contends that West Bengal's decision to label the Digha shrine as a 'dham' is an arbitrary and unconstitutional act that distorts religious heritage and infringes upon the rights guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
These articles protect the freedom of religion and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
Furthermore, the VHP raised concerns about the distribution of prasad under state patronage, alleging that sweets procured from local shops are being passed off as consecrated offerings. This, they argue, trivialises the ritual purity of prasad and causes confusion and offence among devotees. The VHP asserted that such actions amount to direct interference in religious matters, violating the doctrine of secularism and constituting a misuse of power for electoral gains.
Earlier, Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Puri scion Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, and Sankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati had spoken against the naming of the Digha shrine as 'Jagannath Dham'.
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