Deepavali, the festival of lights, is now part of the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the step, saying it would add to the popularity of the festival globally.
The festival is a new inscription on the list, alongside cultural symbols from many other countries, like Ghana, Georgia, Congo, Ethiopia and Egypt, among others.
"New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage List: Deepavali, #India. Congratulations!," UNESCO said in a tweet on Wednesday.
India is hosting a session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival in India. The decision to have the festival on the cultural heritage list was reportedly taken during a key meeting of UNESCO being hosted at the Red Fort in Delhi.
India welcomes step
{{/usCountry}}Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival in India. The decision to have the festival on the cultural heritage list was reportedly taken during a key meeting of UNESCO being hosted at the Red Fort in Delhi.
India welcomes step
{{/usCountry}}Reacting to the festival's inclusion into the list, India's Union Culture Min Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the festival is deeply emotional for Indians and has lived through generations.
“This UNESCO tag also a responsibility; we must ensure Deepavali remains living heritage,” Shekhawat was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
PM Modi also welcomed the step and said in a tweet: “People in India and around the world are thrilled. For us, Deepavali is very closely linked to our culture and ethos. It is the soul of our civilisation. It personifies illumination and righteousness. The addition of Deepavali to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List will contribute to the festival’s global popularity even further. May the ideals of Prabhu Shri Ram keep guiding us for eternity.”
Notably, the 2025 session on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) will be chaired by HE Vishal V Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO.
The 20th session of the panel is underway from December 8 to 13 at the Red Fort.
Countries represented on heritage list
Not just India, cultural heritage symbols of several countries made it to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Have a look:
- Iceland's Swimming pool culture
- The Compas of Haiti
- Ghana's highlife music and dance
- Georgian wheat culture
- Ethiopia's Gifaataa, Wolaita people New Year festival
- ElSalvador's Confraternity of flowers and palms
- Egypt's Koshary, daily life dish
- Czechia's amateur theatre acting
- Cyprus's Commandaria wine
- Cuba's practice of Cuban Son
- Yemen's Hadrami Dan gathering