The Odisha government has requested the Centre’s support to nominate Puri’s world-renowned Jagannath Rath Yatra for inclusion on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, officials said on Monday.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has forwarded a detailed proposal prepared by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to the central government, urging the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism to expedite and prioritise the nomination process.
However, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has launched a sharp attack against the move. The regional party claimed that the BJP-led state government has consistently failed to conduct the annual festival flawlessly since assuming office, dismissing the UNESCO heritage pitch as a mere public-oriented exercise, the BJD said.
In an official communication addressed to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on August 1, Chief Minister Majhi said that the annual chariot festival transcends routine religious observances.
“The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath 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,” Majhi wrote in his letter.
The Chief Minister noted that the centuries-old festival draws millions of pilgrims and international visitors annually, standing as one of the most prominent expressions of India’s living heritage.
Achieving a UNESCO inscription would elevate global awareness regarding India’s intangible cultural legacies and help preserve these sacred traditions for future generations, he emphasized.
Majhi informed the Union Minister that the SJTA has already finalized and submitted all required documentation in the official format.
“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 extend necessary support of the Ministry of Culture for taking the nomination forward with UNESCO at the earliest,” the chief minister urged in the letter.
He assured that both the Odisha government and the SJTA remain ready to provide any additional data or operational assistance that may be required by the Ministry throughout the submission process.
More than 50 lakh people attended the 12-day Rath Yatra celebrations held in Puri between July 16 and July 27.
Responding to the development, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty issued a statement accusing the state government of administrative missteps over the past three years. Mohanty pointed to recurring crowd stampedes resulting in casualties, as well as alleged procedural lapses during key temple rituals.
“Writing a letter seeking its inclusion in the UNESCO Heritage List is merely a publicity-oriented exercise. This move is intended to divert public attention from the repeated mishaps that have occurred during the Rath Yatra. Before seeking UNESCO Heritage recognition, the government must first ensure the flawless conduct of the Rath Yatra,” Mohanty stated.
He further added, “Lord Jagannath is the Lord of the Universe, and His Rath Yatra is globally renowned. Even without being included in the UNESCO Heritage List, devotees from across the world travel to witness the grandeur of the Rath Yatra. Therefore, ensuring the safety of these devotees through the flawless conduct of the Rath Yatra is of paramount importance.” He also stated that the state government’s initiative to include ‘Pakhala’ in the Guinness Book of Records during the observance of Pakhala Divas was also a farce. The expenditure of nearly Rs 2.5 crore from the state exchequer for this purpose had raised serious questions among the public regarding its justification.
