West Bengal is getting ready for the big opening of the new Jagannath Temple in Digha. The event will happen on April 30, 2025, during the special day of Akshaya Tritiya. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the temple. This will be an important religious and cultural moment for the state, although Mamata Banerjee’s move has sparked controversy, with some viewing it as an attempt to woo Hindu voters to the party.
TMC Goes Gibli
Trinamool Congress MLAs from different parts of West Bengal have changed their social media profile pictures to show respect for the new Jagannath Temple. Leaders like Dr. Saptarshi Banerjee, Manoranjan Byapari, and Mosarraf Hussain are among nearly 50 MLAs who have done this to show unity online. People saw them joining hands and standing in front of the temple. The AI images were created through Gibli studio.
The party is also running a special countdown campaign. They are posting animated puzzles made by AI that show the temple and its important religious items. These posts highlight the temple’s beauty and meaning while keeping people excited for the big day.
Mamata Banerjee also embraced the spirit of the occasion. She shared a post on X: “It is our faith that teaches us to stand tall through hardships, shapes our spirit, roots us in humility, and reminds us that even in our frailty, we are infinite. The Jagannath Temple in Digha will soon open its doors, welcoming not only the people of Bengal but also pilgrims from across India. The countdown has begun, with rituals being performed each day. May this temple serve as a sanctuary of hope, peace, and unity for generations to come.”
It is our faith that teaches us to stand tall through hardships, shapes our spirit, roots us in humility, and reminds us that even in our frailty, we are infinite.
The Jagannath Temple in Digha will soon open its doors, welcoming not only the people of Bengal but pilgrims from… pic.twitter.com/kdqRTH3Kci
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 26, 2025
Digha’s Jagannath Temple
The West Bengal government funded and built the Jagannath Temple in Digha over 22 acres at a cost of about Rs 250 crore. They will officially open it on April 30, 2025, during the festival of Akshaya Tritiya. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that some early religious ceremonies, like the Kalash Yatra, have already started.
Inspired By The Iconic Puri Temple
The temple committee dedicated the new temple to Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra. Architects designed it to resemble the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. The temple spreads across 22 acres near Digha railway station, and the West Bengal government spent an estimated Rs 250 crore to build it.
The authorities have set up a trustee board to manage the temple. This board includes important officials like the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police, and members from ISKCON, Sanatan Dharma, and the local priest community.
