By achieving UNESCO recognition, Rath Yatra would help promote this living heritage globally while strengthening community ties
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha government is once again working to get UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity status for Puri’s Rath Yatra, which draws more than a million visitors each year.
On Sunday, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced that they are preparing nomination documents to send to the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the agency responsible for assessing ICH proposals. Although the state culture department started this process and set up an advisory committee in November 2022 to nominate Rath Yatra for UNESCO recognition, no submission was made then. Recently, SJTA’s chief administrator Arabinda Padhee met with officials from the Union Ministry of Culture in Delhi to gain their support for this effort.
The chariot festival is a key part of Odisha’s famous 12th-century temple and represents India’s rich culture, according to Arabinda Padhee, the chief administrator of SJTA. He highlighted that this event shows the importance of Rath Yatra in India’s cultural and historical context.
He will send the proposal in the coming days. He mentioned that the talks with the Ministry officials went well. The administration hopes this special recognition will celebrate the festival’s history and showcase India’s rich cultural and religious diversity to the world.
Every year, the Rath Yatra attracts many devotees from around the globe to Puri. A special feature of the festival allows Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, to leave their temple each year, giving followers of various faiths a chance to see them.
The festival keeps its traditional spirit even with modern influences. The amazing skill shown in building the famous chariot is still a key feature. Recognition from UNESCO would help share this living heritage worldwide and strengthen community ties, said Arabinda Padhee.
The Chhau dance from the Mayurbhanj district was recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. This list showcases cultural practices that reflect heritage diversity and their significance. Countries put forward nominations based on certain criteria, which are reviewed annually by a committee made up of representatives from different governments.
