Jagannath Dham Temple in Digha | 03 May 2025

Source: IE 

The Jagannath Dham temple in Digha, West Bengal, inaugurated in April 2024, marks a significant religious and architectural development.  

• Inspired by Odisha’s 12th-century Jagannath Temple (Puri), it is built in Kalinga-style architecture, housing idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra on the Ratnabedi. 
• It features four main structures i.e., Vimana (sanctum), Jagamohan (assembly hall), Nat Mandir (dance hall), and Bhog Mandap (offering hall). 
• Built using Bansi Paharpur sandstone, the temple houses stone idols, unlike Puri’s Darubrahma deities carved from neem wood. 
• About Jagannath Temple, Puri: It was built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 12th century CE.  
  • The idols are made of wood (neem logs) and are replaced every 12–19 years in the Nabakalebara ritual. 
  • It is an example of Kalinga architecture (a sub-style of Odisha temple architecture). 
  • It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites along with Badrinath, Dwarka, and Rameswaram and a major Vaishnavism centre. 
  • The flag atop the temple flies against the wind, and the Sudarsana Chakra appears the same from every angle (optical illusion).