UNESCO tag for Dasara likely

Yakshagana, Mahamasthakabhishekha also in the line for intangible heritage title

Disclosing this to the media on the sidelines of inauguration of ‘Bombe Mane’, an exhibition on dolls in Mysore on Thursday, Kannada, Culture and Information Department Secretary B R Jayaramaraje Urs said that “the prestigious UNESCO heritage tag is awarded to both tangible and intangible heritage sources. Under the intangible category, the State government has sent a proposal identifying six heritage treasures - Yakshagana, Kodava culture, Mysore Dasara, Mahamastakabhisheka, tribal culture and leather puppetry to the Culture Ministry, Government of India.”

“The Ministry has recommended Yakshagana and Mahamastakabhisheka along with Mysore Dasara for the UNESCO heritage tag out of six. There are possibilities of Mysore Dasara getting the tag which has a history of nearly 500 years,” he informed.

While the Directorate of Archaeology has sent all details regarding Mysore Dasara, Information Department has worked on Mahamastakabhisheka. The Kannada and Culture Department has sent all details about Yakshagana.
A thirty-minute film on Mysore Dasara capturing its grandiose from Vijayanagar empire to the Mysore Wadiyars and the present State-sponsored nine-day festival has been prepared.

Similar kind of presentation has also been done on Yakshagana and Mahamastakabhisheka.
It has been reduced to ten-minute presentation to suit the requirements laid down by the UNESCO for the heritage tag, stated Deputy Director Archaeology Gopal.
Explaining that this is the first time that the State has recommended intangible treasures to be listed under the UNESCO heritage,  B R Jayaramaraje Urs said this would help in promoting these heritage aspects on a global level.