Bhubaneswar, The Odisha government has sought the Centre's support for nominating Puri's Jagannath Rath Yatra on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, officials said on Monday.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has forwarded a proposal of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration to the Centre and sought the intervention and support of the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism for taking the nomination forward on priority.
In a letter to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on August 1, Majhi said the Rath Yatra is not merely a religious festival but a timeless civilisational tradition.
"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".
The chief minister said the centuries-old festival attracts millions of devotees and visitors from across the world and remains one of the most enduring symbols of India's living heritage.
