Odisha CM pushes for UNESCO Intangible Heritage Status for Puri Rath Yatra

Bhubaneswar, Aug 3 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has urged Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to support the nomination of the world-famous Rath Yatra of Shree Jagannatha, Puri, for inscription on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Drawing the Union Minister’s attention to the proposal originally submitted by the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in a letter, highlighted that, “the Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha is not merely a religious festival but a timeless civilisational tradition that embodies India’s rich cultural diversity, inclusivity, spirituality, craftsmanship, music, dance and community participation.”

He noted that the festival, celebrated for centuries, attracts millions of devotees and visitors from across the globe every year and stands as one of the most enduring symbols of India’s living heritage.

CM Majhi further informed that the SJTA has already submitted all supporting materials in the prescribed format for UNESCO’s consideration.

The Chief Minister requested the Ministry of Culture’s intervention to facilitate the examination of the proposal and extend necessary support to take the nomination forward at the earliest.

“Considering the outstanding cultural significance of the festival and its universal message of harmony and human values, I request your personal intervention to kindly facilitate the examination of the proposal and to extend necessary support of the Ministry of Culture for taking the nomination forward with UNESCO at the earliest,” urged the Chief Minister.

CM Majhi assured that the Government of Odisha and SJTA would provide any further information or assistance required during the process.

“Its inscription on UNESCO’s List would further strengthen global recognition of India’s rich intangible cultural traditions while contributing significantly to their preservation and promotion for future generations,” he wrote.

Notably, Odisha currently has one UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage inscription — the Chhau Dance, jointly inscribed with Jharkhand and West Bengal. If the Ratha Yatra of Shree Jagannatha, Puri is inscribed, it will become Odisha’s second entry on the prestigious UNESCO list.

–IANS

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