Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has formally urged the Union government to extend necessary support for the nomination of the Ratha Yatra of Shree Jagannath, Puri, for inscription on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In a letter to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, he said all the supporting materials in prescribed formats have already been submitted by the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) for consideration.
“I would like to draw your kind attention to the proposal submitted by the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri seeking the nomination of the Ratha Yatra of Shree Jagannatha, Puri for inscription on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” Majhi said in his letter dated August 1.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the Ratha Yatra is not merely a religious festival but a timeless civilisational tradition reflecting India’s cultural diversity, inclusivity, spirituality, craftsmanship, music, dance, and community participation.
The festival, celebrated for centuries, attracts millions of devotees and visitors from across the world and stands as one of India’s most enduring symbols of living heritage, he said.
“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,” said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister also sought the personal intervention of the Union Minister to take the nomination forward with UNESCO 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,” said Majhi.
The Chief Minister further said that the government of Odisha and the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration will provide any further information or assistance that may be required by the Ministry during the process.
“I shall be grateful for your kind intervention and support in taking this proposal forward on priority,” Majhi added.