Digha (WB): On the occasion of Rath Yatra, approximately 300,000 devotees flocked to the newly established Jagannath temple in Digha, as reported by a senior monk from ISKCON.

Radharaman Das, the Vice-President of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), mentioned that daily attendance is expected to range from 70,000 to 100,000 until the 'Ulto Rath' (return car festival) on July 4.

ISKCON is responsible for conducting the rituals and worship of the deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev, and Devi Subhadra—at the Digha temple.

"In total, around three lakh pilgrims visited the temple grounds during the two days of Netrotsav (the day of the deities receiving vision)," Das stated on Saturday.

When asked about the anticipated number of visitors leading up to 'Ulto Rath', he replied, "We expect an average of 70,000 to 100,000 devotees daily."

Despite occasional rain, the influx of visitors has remained consistent, according to the monk.

Currently, all rituals are being conducted for the deities, who are temporarily located at another temple, approximately 750 meters from the main shrine, which is regarded as their aunt's residence.

Since its opening on April 30, around 3.3 million people have visited the temple, Das noted.

An official from the Digha Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) remarked, "The seaside resort has transformed into a religious tourism hotspot in West Bengal, and we anticipate even higher attendance next year."

The temple was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in April.