Bhubaneswar: Close on the heels of PM Narendra Modi celebrating the legacy of Bali Jatra, and hailing the ancient cultural tradition in Bali, the Ministry of Culture has included Bali Jatra in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Union Culture Ministry has also included the grand Car Fest (Rath Yatra) held annually on the grand road of Puri since many centuries, in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This big development has been shared on the X by Principal Secy Agriculture Department, Odisha government and Chief Administrator SJTA Puri Arabinda Padhee.
Terming it exciting, the Principal Secy wrote, Puri Rath Yatra will soon enter the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Elaborating, Padhee said, “The SJTA has recently submitted the nomination dossier to the Union Ministry of Culture for UNECSO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Recognition for Rath Yatra of Shree Jagannath Puri. Wit hthe first milestone achieved, we are eagerly anticipate the grand spectacle’s inscription onto UNESCO’s final List. Fingers crossed. Mahaprabhu’s blessings will continue to guide us through this journey.”
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had recently submitted the Nomination Dossier to the Union Ministry of Culture for UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognition for Ratha Yatra of Shree Jagannatha Puri. pic.twitter.com/i1IhE88Cos
— Arabinda K Padhee (@arvindpadhee) March 31, 2025
HERE IS THE LIST
HOW UNESCO LISTING LIKELY?
As per the Sangeet Natak Academy website, in fulfilment of its obligations under the UNESCO convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage, a statute to which India is a signatory, the Ministry of Culture has declared the Sangeet Natak Akademi as the Nodal centre for coordinating India’s nominations for various lists and other actions such as developing and maintaining the National Inventory of ICH.
A dance, music, community fest et al get listed in the National database of Intangible Cultural Heritage after supplying of proper documents, attachments and audio-visual materials of each of the chosen elements in its entirety.
The SNA says, “Each element is supported by the requisite documents by the community engaged in the work of preservation and promotion of each.”
And then the participating bodies’ demand to be placed on the UNESCO Representative List.
Therefore, it is crystal clear that the dossier submitted to Union Ministry of Culture has led to the inclusion of Puri Rath Yatra in the ICH List. And the path for listing in UNESCO list has been literally stands clear now.
