The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has resumed the process of nominating the festival for the prestigious recognition. The SJTA is currently preparing the nomination dossier for the Rath Yatra, which will be submitted to UNESCO through the Ministry of Culture. Currently, 14 cultural elements from India are inscribed in UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These include diverse art forms such as music, dance, theatre, festivals, rituals, and storytelling traditions. In 2021, Kolkata”s Durga Puja was added to the list, while Chhau dance forms from Mayurbhanj (Odisha) and Purulia (West Bengal) received recognition in 2010. In 2022, the Odisha government had initially initiated efforts to obtain the UNESCO tag. The Culture Department had formed an advisory committee to oversee the nomination process, and the SJTA had suggested five senior servitors to be part of the panel. With its deep-rooted cultural and religious significance, Odisha’ “ stands as a strong contender for UNESCO’s recognition, further strengthening India’s rich heritage on the global stage,” said Arabinda Padhee, the chief administrator of the temple.