Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has sought the Centre’s support for nominating Puri’s Jagannath Rath Yatra on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, officials said Monday.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has forwarded a proposal of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to the Centre and sought the intervention and support of the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism for taking the nomination forward on priority.
In a letter to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat August 1, Majhi said the Rath Yatra is not merely a religious festival but a timeless civilisational tradition.
“The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath 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”.
The chief minister said the centuries-old festival attracts millions of devotees and visitors from across the world and remains one of the most enduring symbols of India’s living heritage.
Its inscription on UNESCO’s List would further strengthen global recognition of India’s rich intangible cultural traditions and contribute significantly to their preservation and promotion for future generations, he said.
Majhi informed the Union minister that the SJTA had already submitted all supporting documents in the prescribed format.
“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 extend necessary support of the Ministry of Culture for taking the nomination forward with UNESCO at the earliest,” the chief minister said in the letter.
The chief minister also said the Odisha government and SJTA will be pleased to provide any further information or assistance that may be required by the Ministry during the process.
Over 50 lakh people participated in the annual Puri Rath Yatra held between July 16 and 27.