Dikhyaa Mohanty 
An entrepreneur of Odia heritage named Biswanath Patnaik has generously donated £25 million (about Rs. 250 crore) to the building of Britain’s first Jagannath Temple. One of the greatest charitable gifts to a temple outside of India was made to the UK-based organization Shree Jagannatha Society UK (SJSUK). Billionaire Patnaik founded the FinNest Group of Companies, a renewable energy-focused private equity investment company. During the first-ever Jagannath Convention held in the UK on Akshaya Trithiya, he made his pledge public. Arun Kar, the MD of FinNest, is a significant donor as well.
With £7 million (Rs 70 crore) of the planned £25 million already aside for the purchase of around 15 acres of land on the outskirts of London, the construction of Britain’s first Jagannath Temple is moving forward quickly. The local council has received a pre-planning application, which is indicative that the temple’s plans are progressing. By the end of 2024, the initial phase of construction is anticipated to be complete.
Arjun Kar, the MD of FinNest and a major donor, reportedly pledged 70 crore rupees to purchase roughly 15 acres of land on the outskirts of London. According to TOI, the first phase of the temple’s construction should be finished by the end of 2024. The Jagannath temple in London, according to Dr. Sahadev Swain, head of the Sree Jagannatha Society UK, would showcase the Jagannath culture in Europe and draw a sizable number of tourists from all over the world. On the auspicious day of Akshaya Trithiya three years ago, the Shree Jagannatha Society UK was founded. It is registered with the Charity Commission.
The convention, which was the first of its sort in Europe, attracted around 600 worshippers from various parts of the UK and Ireland. A number of notable individuals attended the event, including Amish Tripathi, a minister in the Indian High Commission, and Sujit Ghosh, the deputy high commissioner of India.
Gajapati Maharaj Shri Dibyasingha Deb, the titular maharaja of Puri and an aadya sevak of Lord Jagannatha, and the titular maharani Leelabati Pattamahadei attended the conference, which was held at the Navnat Centre in Hayes.Speaking to the crowd, Gajapati Maharaj discussed Lord Jagannatha’s customs and the significance of Purushottama Kshetra. He also expressed his joy on the spread of Lord Jagannatha worship around the world and in various regions of India. Three years ago, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Trithiya, SJS UK was established. Since then, it has been registered with the Charity Commission. Dr. Sahadev Swain, the chair of SJS UK, expressed hope that the temple will become a major pilgrimage destination and the center of Jagannatha culture in Europe.
