Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 3: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has written a letter to Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to support the nomination of the Rath Yatra of Jagannath temple in Puri for inscription on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri has submitted a proposal 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.
He said 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.
Celebrated for centuries, it attracts millions of devotees and visitors from across the globe and stands as one of the most enduring symbols of India’s living heritage, the Chief Minister pointed out.
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 stated.
Majhi noted that the supporting materials in prescribed formats have already been submitted by the SJTA for consideration.
“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,” the CM urged.
He assured all support from the state government and the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration to the Ministry during the process.
