Digha Temple Row: Daita Nijog Chief Appears Before SJTA

Puri: Amid growing controversy surrounding the newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha, Daita Nijog President Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra appeared before the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri for questioning on Saturday. The development comes after allegations emerged regarding the alleged use of surplus sacred neem wood from the 2015 Nabakalebar ceremony in Puri for crafting the idols at the Digha temple.

Dasmahapatra, a senior servitor of Lord Jagannath, was served a notice by the SJTA following a directive from the Odisha government to investigate the claims. The controversy intensified after the servitor, who was present at the Digha temple’s inauguration on April 30 at the invitation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, reportedly told a Bengali television channel that the idols were carved using leftover neem wood from the 2015 Nabakalebar ritual.

However, upon his return to Puri, Dasmahapatra denied these claims during a press conference, stating that the idols were crafted from regular neem wood in Puri under his supervision. His conflicting statements triggered a political and religious uproar, prompting the Odisha Government to order a formal probe into the matter.

Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan confirmed the inquiry and assured that appropriate action would be taken against anyone found guilty of violating sacred practices or misusing materials associated with the Nabakalebar ritual.

The Nabakalebar ceremony, held every 12 to 19 years, is a deeply revered ritual involving the creation of new wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshan using specially selected sacred neem wood known as daru bramha.

The ongoing investigation by SJTA seeks to ascertain the origin of the wood used in the Digha temple and clarify any breach of protocol surrounding the handling of sacred materials.