Digha is witnessing an unprecedented spiritual fervour as preparations for the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple enter their final phase.
The ceremonial Hom Yajna, which began on 25 April, is in full swing and has become the focal point of religious activities in the coastal town.
The final day of the Yajna commenced at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and will continue throughout the day, culminating with the Purnahuti to be performed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the afternoon.
The atmosphere in Digha is abuzz with devotion. Pilgrims have been steadily arriving since Monday, and their numbers surged significantly on Tuesday.
With religious rituals underway inside the temple, the entire town has come under tight police surveillance to manage the swelling crowds and ensure a smooth flow of events.
As part of the ceremonial rites, a large-scale Hom Yajna is being conducted under the guidance of 17 monks from ISKCON and 58 trained priests and devotees, including Rajesh Dwaitapati from Puri.
A symbolic one crore chants of the Narasimha mantra are being recited to sanctify the proceedings before the consecration of Lord Jagannath. To fuel the sacred fire, 100 quintals of mango and bel wood and two quintals of pure ghee have been arranged for the rituals.
According to temple authorities, all preliminary rituals, including the invocation of accompanying deities such as Sudarshan Dev, Goddess Lakshmi, Vimala, and Satyabhama, have been completed.
Lord Jagannath has already been given the ceremonial milk bath, following the traditional practice in Puri. The deities will rest on a flower-adorned bed on Tuesday evening in preparation for the final consecration.
On Wednesday, which coincides with the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the Pran Pratistha (consecration ceremony) of Lord Jagannath and the installation of the Radha-Krishna idols will take place.
As described by temple trustee Radharman Das, the idols will first be tied with gold, silver, and copper wires—symbolically connecting the deity with the chief priest through a sacred bond.
This will be followed by the installation of the holy ghat, placement of the sacred kunda, and invocation of the divine reflection.
Special arrangements are also underway for the Mahayajna prasad, with traditional sweets like perad, khaja, gaja, and rasgolla being prepared in large quantities.
Echoing the tradition of offering khaja in Puri, Digha will honour its own offerings, as announced by the Chief Minister, with perad and gaja to be served as prasad to the Lord.
Mamata, who arrived in Digha on Monday, has been actively overseeing the arrangements and temple readiness.
She remarked that the addition of the Jagannath Temple to Digha’s popular sea tourism will transform the town into a convergence point of natural beauty and spiritual significance, with the potential to become an international pilgrimage destination.
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