New Delhi: Four iconic traditional cultural practices of Odisha — Mayurbhanj Chhau Dance, Odissi, Cuttack’s Bali Jatra and Puri’s Rath Yatra — have been included in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of India, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the details in a written reply to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Dilip Kumar Ray. The traditions were identified and added through the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the nodal institution under the Ministry of Culture responsible for maintaining the inventory of India’s intangible cultural heritage.
The minister noted that the government is actively promoting and safeguarding such heritage through documentation, training programmes, workshops, financial assistance to cultural institutions, and participation in national and international events. Odisha’s traditions, including Chhau, Gotipua and Odissi, have been showcased at prominent platforms such as the Republic Day Parade, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, UNESCO events, SCO Cultural Events and Expo 2025 in Osaka, enhancing their national and global visibility. Chhau Dance itself, encompassing the Mayurbhanj style along with those from Seraikela and Purulia, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, further elevating recognition of Odisha’s cultural contributions.
Mayurbhanj Chhau is distinguished by its energetic, martial-inspired movements drawn from epics, folklore and everyday life, performed without masks unlike the other regional styles. Odissi, one of India’s classical dance forms with deep roots in the state’s temple traditions, continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Bali Jatra, the vibrant annual fair in Cuttack, commemorates the ancient maritime trade links of the Kalinga empire with Southeast Asia, particularly Bali, while Puri’s Rath Yatra, the grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, draws millions of devotees each year and stands as one of the state’s most significant spiritual and cultural events.
Inclusion in the national inventory marks an important step toward potential further international recognition, as it is a prerequisite for nomination to UNESCO’s Representative List.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and officials from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration had earlier welcomed the addition of Rath Yatra and Bali Jatra to the list, describing it as a proud moment for the state’s rich heritage and expressing hopes for eventual global acknowledgement.
Notably, the only intangible heritage element in UNESCO from Odisha is Mayurbhanj’s Chhau dance, which was inscribed in 2010 along with two other styles of it from Saraikela and Purulia.