Dikhyaa Mohanty 
According to reports, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has begun the process of nominating the annual Ratha Yatra, a significant festival at the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple that honors the rich cultural heritage of Odisha and India, for UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The SJTA is reportedly putting together the necessary paperwork to submit to the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the official agency that handles such nominations.
Gaining international awareness for the event and emphasizing its significance on the international scene are the objectives. Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, the chief administrator of SJTA, said the organization was proud to start the process of getting the Ratha Yatra recognized by UNESCO. He emphasized that the goal of this endeavor is to show the world the festival’s cultural relevance. During his recent visit to Delhi, Dr. Padhee discussed the nomination with important individuals, including senior officials from the Union Ministry of Culture. The procedure entails compiling comprehensive data on the customs and cultural practices of the event.
Every year, the Ratha Yatra brings thousands of devotees from all over the world to Puri. One of the unique features of the festival is that it allows Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, to travel out of Their temple and offer darshan to followers of different faiths.
