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Deepavali enters UNESCO heritage list, giving India's festival of light a global status
Deepavali, the festival of lights, has been inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, marking a significant global recognition for the widely celebrated Indian tradition. This inscription reinforces India's cultural footprint as it hosts the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee session in Delhi, highlighting the importance of safeguarding living traditions.
UNESCO has added Deepavali to its list of intangible cultural heritage, marking a major recognition for one of India's most widely celebrated festivals. The announcement was shared by PM Narendra Modi and Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday, putting the spotlight on India just as the country hosts UNESCO's 20th Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee session in Delhi.
In a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "A joyous moment as Deepavali, the festival of lights, marking the triumph of good over evil and the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom, Ayodhya, which is celebrated globally, is added to the @UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list."
The inscription places Deepavali among globally recognised living traditions, reinforcing India's cultural footprint at a time when it is also hosting the heritage committee session. The move links the festival's deep cultural roots with the global conversation on safeguarding traditions facing pressure from modern change.
UNESCO's description of the festival
UNESCO described Deepavali on its official website as a community celebration tied to the lunar calendar. It stated, "Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is a light festival celebrated annually by diverse individuals and communities across India, that marks the last harvest of the year and the start of a new year and new season. Based on the lunar calendar, it falls on the new moon in October or November and lasts several days. It is a joyous occasion that symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. During this time, people clean and decorate their homes and public spaces, light lamps and candles, set off fireworks, and offer prayers for prosperity and new beginnings".Other Indian elements already on the list
Deepavali joins a growing list of Indian cultural practices recognised by UNESCO.Some of them include:
Garba from Gujarat (2023) Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021) Kumbh Mela (2017) Yoga (2016) Traditional brass and copper craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab (2014) Earlier entries also include Ramlila, added in 2008, and Navroz, added in 2024.
What UNESCO means by intangible heritage
UNESCO defines intangible cultural heritage as practices, knowledge, expressions, objects, and spaces that communities pass down over generations. These traditions evolve with time and help strengthen both cultural identity and appreciation for diversity.The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted on October 17, 2003, in Paris. It aimed to protect living cultural expressions that were facing threats due to globalisation, changing social habits, and limited resources.
India hosts UNESCO heritage committee for the first time
India is hosting UNESCO's 20th Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee session from December 8 to 13.The meeting is taking place at Delhi's Red Fort complex, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, creating a symbolic backdrop for global discussions on cultural preservation.
India's permanent delegate to UNESCO, Vishal V Sharma, is chairing the session. The event also aligns with the 20th anniversary of India's ratification of the 2003 Convention in 2005, reflecting India's continued effort to protect living traditions.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
Source: EconomicTimes
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