PURI, July 2026 — The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration in Puri, Odisha, has obtained trademark protection for certain sacred names and symbols associated with Lord Jagannath, a step aimed at preventing unauthorised commercial use of the deity's identity and iconography.
The move follows growing concern among temple authorities and devotees over the use of Jagannath's name and imagery by private businesses on merchandise and products without any connection to the temple or its traditions. Trademark protection gives the temple administration legal recourse against such use, an approach other major religious institutions in India have also pursued in recent years to safeguard their identity.
The temple administration is expected to lay down guidelines for how the protected names and symbols may be used going forward, likely requiring formal permission for commercial applications tied to the deity's identity.
This item sits at the intersection of culture and law, both frequently tested areas in general awareness — aspirants should note the administrative body involved (SJTA) and the broader trend of religious and cultural institutions seeking IP protection for their identity.