The coastal town of Digha in West Bengal has witnessed an unprecedented economic transformation following the inauguration of the Jagannath temple, with business revenues skyrocketing to remarkable levels in just over six months.
Economic Boom in Seaside Town
Business revenues in Digha have crossed Rs 100 crore since the temple's opening in late April, according to state home and tourism secretary Nandini Chakraborty. This impressive figure represents a dramatic increase compared to the Rs 50-60 crore recorded during the entire previous twelve-month period.
State tourism officials are optimistic about the sustained growth, estimating that if the current momentum continues, Digha could see revenues from hotels, merchandise, guide fees, and overall visitor spending reach Rs 150 crore by March 2026. This projection indicates a potential 200% increase in a single year, positioning Digha firmly within West Bengal's prominent religious circuit alongside established destinations like Nabadwip, Mayapur, Kalighat, Dakhineswar, and Tarapith.
Temple Inauguration and Visitor Surge
The Jagannath temple, inaugurated on April 30, 2025 and modeled after the famous Puri shrine, has completely transformed Digha from a simple seaside getaway into a self-sufficient pilgrimage center. Temple authorities reported an astonishing 90 lakh devotees visiting the complex within just six months, averaging approximately 50,000 visitors daily.
Radharamn Das of ISKCON Kolkata, who manages the temple complex, confirmed the continuous and massive surge of devotees since the temple's opening. "The crowd intensified on festive days," he noted, adding that "the arrival of nearly 90 lakh people in just six months has propelled Digha's Jagannath temple into the league of the most popular new places of pilgrimage."
Economic Impact and Employment Generation
The temple's financial autonomy is evident from its daily earnings of around Rs 4 lakh, making the shrine self-sufficient. Beyond the immediate temple operations, the economic benefits have spread throughout the community.
The project has generated direct employment for approximately 170 people in various roles including temple service, security, cleaning, and house-keeping. Additionally, the surrounding area has experienced significant indirect economic benefits through the ripple effect of increased tourism and visitor spending.
Major festivals have drawn particularly massive crowds, with the recent Raas Purnima celebration posing substantial challenges for local administration due to the overwhelming number of devotees. Local officials confirm that devotees now arrive daily from other states, underscoring Digha's emergence as a significant religious destination distinct from its traditional appeal as a seaside resort.
Although built under the state government's initiative, the temple's operations were handed over post-inauguration to the Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre Trust. To ensure security and smooth operations, a Jagannath Dham Police Outpost has been established on the temple premises.
