Bhubaneswar. The Puri Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has urged the Central Government and the Odisha Government to expedite the process of including Lord Jagannath’s historic Puri Rath Yatra on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
INTACH Puri Chapter Convenor Subas Chandra Rath stated in a press conference that 16 Indian cultural traditions have been included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, but the nearly 800-year-old Puri Rath Yatra has yet to be included on this global list. He described it as an important symbol of India’s vibrant and unique cultural heritage.
He stated that the Rath Yatra is not merely a religious event, but a confluence of many traditional forms and cultural traditions. It includes the Nabakalebar ritual, the traditional art of chariot construction by the Maharana and Bhoi servitors, devotional music, temple art, religious rituals, and the tradition of pulling the chariot by millions of devotees, regardless of caste, religion, or nationality.
Sanjay Kumar Baral, co-convener of the INTACH Puri Chapter, described the Rath Yatra as a “heritage of humanity” and urged the state and central governments to submit a nomination document to UNESCO through appropriate channels. He said, “Recognition by UNESCO will not only give this festival global recognition but will also strengthen efforts to document, preserve, and promote it internationally.”
The INTACH Puri Chapter, formed in May 2026, has announced a statewide public awareness campaign to this end. Oral traditions related to the Rath Yatra will be documented and public support for the UNESCO nomination will be garnered through workshops in schools and colleges.
This initiative has been supported by numerous experts, heritage conservation scholars, and INTACH life members. They also appealed to devotees and cultural heritage lovers to actively participate in the campaign.