Name change for 'Mongol Shobhajatra' requires fresh approval for recognition: Unesco
So far, no formal application has been made for its (Mongol Shobhajatra) name change, says the UN agency
Changing the name of "Mongol Shobhajatra" to "Barshoboron Anondo Shobhajatra" will require a new application and formal approval to maintain its Unesco recognition as an element of cultural heritage, reports BBC Bangla.
BBC Bangla contacted the UN agency via email to seek clarification on the matter.
In its reply to BBC Bangla, Unesco explained that a specific procedure exists for such alterations, considering the "living heritage and its dynamics" in the context of intangible cultural heritage.
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Furthermore, Unesco clarified that the proposed name change would require the endorsement of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee," a body comprising representatives from 24 member countries.
A Unesco spokesperson confirmed that "So far, no formal application has been made for its (Mongol Shobhajatra) name change."
On 11 April, the traditional "Mongol Shobhajatra" procession, a central part of Pahela Baishakh celebrations in Bangladesh, was renamed "Anondo Shobhajatra" by the University of Dhaka, which organises the annual procession.
Earlier this year, conservative group Hefazat-e-Islam called the Mongol Shobhajatra a "Hindu ritual" and urged the government to change its name, sparking public debate.
The procession, however, has long been celebrated as a symbol of unity, peace, and resistance against oppression. Recognised by Unesco in 2016 as an intangible cultural heritage, Mongol Shobhajatra has been a secular and inclusive tradition since its inception in 1989 by students and teachers of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Hefazat leaders urged the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to formally write to Unesco, demanding a review and correction of what they called a historical misrepresentation.
