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The Odisha Government has urged the Centre to nominate Puri's Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra for inclusion in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

About the Proposal

Prepared by the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), the proposal seeks international recognition for the annual Rath Yatra as a living cultural tradition that embodies India's spiritual heritage, traditional craftsmanship, music, dance, rituals, and social inclusivity.

Key Features of Puri Rath Yatra

The Rath Yatra is celebrated annually during the Shukla Paksha of the Hindu month of Ashadha (June–July) and has references in the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Kapila Samhita. It has also been documented by European travellers since the medieval period.

Every year, three new wooden chariots are constructed following traditional Shilpa Shastra principles by hereditary artisan communities:

• Nandighosha – Lord Jagannath
• Taladhwaja – Lord Balabhadra
• Darpadalana – Goddess Subhadra

The deities are taken in the Pahandi Bije procession from the Jagannath Temple to their chariots on the Bada Danda (Grand Avenue) and pulled by devotees to the Gundicha Temple. After a seven-day stay, they return during the Bahuda Yatra, halting at the Mausi Maa Temple, where they are offered the traditional Podo Pitha.