📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Krupasindhu Muduli
Religion
Odisha Urges Centre to Secure UNESCO Heritage Tag for Rath Yatra
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 05 Aug 2026, 01:04 PM
👁 15
The Odisha government has appealed to the central government to assist in obtaining the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity designation for the annual Rath Yatra festival.
Odisha’s Ministry of Culture has formally requested the central government’s support to secure a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity tag for the Rath Yatra, the grand chariot procession that draws millions of devotees each year.
The Rath Yatra, held annually in Puri, is a pivotal religious event that showcases intricate craftsmanship, traditional music, and communal harmony. Odisha argues that the festival’s cultural significance and its role in preserving intangible heritage merit international recognition.
To obtain the UNESCO designation, a detailed nomination dossier must be prepared, highlighting the festival’s historical roots, cultural practices, and community involvement. The central government’s endorsement is essential to ensure the dossier meets UNESCO’s stringent criteria.
Securing the tag could boost cultural tourism, enhance preservation efforts, and elevate the festival’s global profile, benefiting local artisans and the state’s economy.
The Rath Yatra, held annually in Puri, is a pivotal religious event that showcases intricate craftsmanship, traditional music, and communal harmony. Odisha argues that the festival’s cultural significance and its role in preserving intangible heritage merit international recognition.
To obtain the UNESCO designation, a detailed nomination dossier must be prepared, highlighting the festival’s historical roots, cultural practices, and community involvement. The central government’s endorsement is essential to ensure the dossier meets UNESCO’s stringent criteria.
Securing the tag could boost cultural tourism, enhance preservation efforts, and elevate the festival’s global profile, benefiting local artisans and the state’s economy.