Indian businessman pledges Rs 250 crore to build UK's first Jagannath temple

Industrialist Biswanath Patnaik from Odisha, has pledged Rs 250 crore to a UK charity, which is raising funds for the construction of Britain's first dedicated Lord Jagannath Temple, as reported by PTI. Notably, this is one of the biggest donations ever offered to a temple outside India.

Billionaire Biswanath Patnaik, is the chairman and founder of the FinNest Group of Companies - an early-stage private equity investment firm that invests worldwide in renewables, electric vehicles (EVs), hydrogen locomotives, innovative technology and fintech. Patnaik announced his pledge to the Shree Jagannatha Society United Kingdom (SJS-UK) during the first-ever Jagannath Convention held in London on Akshaya Trithiya on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, Arjun Kar, who is the UK-based principal donor of the project announced that Patnaik has pledged a sum of Rs 250 crore towards the construction of a magnificent temple for Lord Jagannatha in London, which will be facilitated by FinNest Group of Companies, of which he is the Managing Director.

Kar also revealed that the group has committed Rs 70 crore towards the purchase of nearly 15 acres of land for the new temple - to be known as Shree Jagannath Mandir London.

''A suitable land has been identified and is currently in the final stages of purchase, and a pre-planning application has been submitted to the local government council to secure permission for the Mandir's construction,'' the charity said in a statement, as quoted by PTI.

The convention was attended by Deputy Indian High Commissioner to the UK Sujit Ghosh and Amish Tripathi, author and minister (of culture and education) in the Indian High Commission. Puri King Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingh Deb along with Maharani Leelabati Pattamahadei also took part in the convention.

Gajapati Maharaj while speaking at the convention held at the Navnat Centre in Hayes said,''The most significant aspect of the tradition of Lord Jagannatha is its all-encompassing universality.'' ''Lord Jagannath is invoked and worshipped by virtually all the diverse religious sampradayas - each in their own way. Lord Jagannath is also worshipped by Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs,'' he added.

(with PTI inputs)