Odisha to Patent Words and Logo Linked to Puri Jagannath Temple Amid Naming Dispute

In response to the ongoing dispute with West Bengal over the use of the term “Dham” for a temple in Digha, the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) has decided to patent key words and logos associated with the iconic 12th-century Puri Jagannath Temple.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Dibyasingha Deb, with attendance from senior officials including Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, and Puri Superintendent of Police Vinit Agarwal.

SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee informed the media that the administration will soon file applications to secure patents for significant terms such as “Mahaprasad” (bhog), “Srimandir” (temple), “Shree Jagannath Dham” (place), “Shreekshetra” (place), and “Purushottam Dham” (place), among others. This move aims to protect the unique cultural and religious identity of the Jagannath Temple amid disputes over the usage of sacred names.

The patenting effort is expected to safeguard the temple’s heritage and prevent unauthorized or misleading use of its associated terms and symbols, thereby asserting Odisha’s custodianship over the centuries-old shrine’s legacy.