SJTA Gets Trademark Nod for ‘Jagannath Dham’, ‘Shree Kshetra’ and Three Others

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has secured trademark protection for five more names and terms associated with the historic Puri Jagannath Temple, in a move aimed at safeguarding the religious identity and cultural heritage of the centuries-old shrine.

According to an official statement issued by the Shree Jagannath Temple Office, Puri, the Trade Marks Registry has accepted five additional trademark applications for publication in the forthcoming Trade Marks Journal following a second round of examination.

The terms covered by the latest development are 'Jagannath Dham', 'Shree Kshetra', 'Mahaprasada', 'Nilachakra' and 'Koili Vaikuntha'. The temple administration said the move marked a significant step towards protecting names and identities closely associated with the sacred traditions of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha.

The SJTA said the registrations would help strengthen legal safeguards against the misuse and unauthorised commercial exploitation of sacred names, symbols and traditions linked to the Puri temple.

The latest development follows trademark registrations secured by the temple administration last month for the wordmarks 'Ananda Bajara' and 'Patitapabana', as well as the Nilachakra logo mark, under the Trade Marks Act.

The SJTA had earlier initiated the process to register trademarks for 29 names, terms and symbols associated with the Puri temple and the broader Shree Jagannath culture. Officials said the move was undertaken after the administration noticed instances of sacred names and symbols being used by individuals and organisations for commercial purposes.

The issue gained further attention after the term 'Jagannath Dham' was used in connection with a Jagannath temple in Digha, West Bengal. The reference sparked controversy, following which it was reportedly removed.

The SJTA's continued trademark efforts are intended to ensure that the distinctive names, symbols and cultural identifiers associated with the Puri shrine receive stronger legal protection and are not used without authorisation.