Rath Yatra, Bali Yatra to be included in National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: The Centre has listed Rath Yatra in Puri and Cuttack’s Bali Yatra in its ‘National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage‘ (NIICH), which is prepared by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the country’s apex cultural body.
Inclusion in the NIICH list takes these two festivals closer to being added in Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The state govt had earlier applied for Rath Yatra to be included in the Unesco list and was planning to do the same for Bali Yatra as well.
Expressing his delight on the development, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi wrote in an X post, “Delighted that Ratha Jatra and Bali Jatra, symbols of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, are listed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage by Sangeet Natak Akademi. This is a proud moment for every Odia and we look forward to their well-deserved recognition on Unesco’s global stage.”
The chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Padhee, said, “The SJTA recently submitted the Nomination Dossier to the Union ministry of culture for Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognition for Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Puri. With this first milestone achieved, we eagerly anticipate the grand spectacle’s inscription onto Unesco’s final list. Fingers crossed that Mahaprabhu’s blessings will continue to guide us through this journey,” Padhee wrote on X.
In a recent reply in the assembly, Odia literature, language and culture minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, said that the Odisha govt has initiated steps to secure a place for Cuttack’s historic Bali Yatra in the Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. “A proposal has been mooted and an expert committee has been formed to prepare the necessary documentation and authentic information highlighting the rich maritime history of Kalinga and Bali Yatra. Steps are also being taken to prepare authentic visual documentation as per the guidelines set by the central Sangeet Natak Akademi, which will be presented to Unesco,” Suraj had informed the house.
“Bali Yatra is an ancient and rich tradition of Odisha which has established links to the celebrated maritime glory of Odisha and well deserves to be listed in Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. We are preparing documents with evidence claiming this for the age-old cultural heritage,” Nihar Patnaik, historian and a member of the expert committee, said.
Inclusion in the NIICH list takes these two festivals closer to being added in Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The state govt had earlier applied for Rath Yatra to be included in the Unesco list and was planning to do the same for Bali Yatra as well.
Expressing his delight on the development, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi wrote in an X post, “Delighted that Ratha Jatra and Bali Jatra, symbols of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, are listed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage by Sangeet Natak Akademi. This is a proud moment for every Odia and we look forward to their well-deserved recognition on Unesco’s global stage.”
The chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Padhee, said, “The SJTA recently submitted the Nomination Dossier to the Union ministry of culture for Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognition for Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Puri. With this first milestone achieved, we eagerly anticipate the grand spectacle’s inscription onto Unesco’s final list. Fingers crossed that Mahaprabhu’s blessings will continue to guide us through this journey,” Padhee wrote on X.
In a recent reply in the assembly, Odia literature, language and culture minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, said that the Odisha govt has initiated steps to secure a place for Cuttack’s historic Bali Yatra in the Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. “A proposal has been mooted and an expert committee has been formed to prepare the necessary documentation and authentic information highlighting the rich maritime history of Kalinga and Bali Yatra. Steps are also being taken to prepare authentic visual documentation as per the guidelines set by the central Sangeet Natak Akademi, which will be presented to Unesco,” Suraj had informed the house.
“Bali Yatra is an ancient and rich tradition of Odisha which has established links to the celebrated maritime glory of Odisha and well deserves to be listed in Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. We are preparing documents with evidence claiming this for the age-old cultural heritage,” Nihar Patnaik, historian and a member of the expert committee, said.
