Deepavali, the ‘Festival of Lights’, has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity.
Venue: The decision was finalized during the 20th Intergovernmental Committee session held at the Red Fort, New Delhi.
Status: It becomes the 16th Indian element to join this prestigious list.
Rationale: The inscription acknowledges Deepavali as a “living tradition” that fosters social cohesion, cultural continuity, and community bonding.
Decoding UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) :
- Unlike the World Heritage List (which focuses on physical monuments), the ICH List recognizes “living traditions.”
- Categories: It encompasses oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, and traditional craftsmanship.
- Objective: To safeguard cultural diversity in the face of globalization and preserve shared human heritage (e.g., France’s baguette-making).
The Selection Mechanism
- Criteria: The practice must be inclusive, representative, and deeply rooted in the community.
- Process: States submit a nomination dossier for evaluation. Currently, a country can nominate one element every two years.
- Safeguarding: The list also identifies traditions at risk (e.g., urgent safeguarding list entries like Vietnam’s Chăm pottery).
INDIA’S CULTURAL INVENTORY
With the addition of Deepavali (2025), India now has 16 elements on the Representative List. A quick revision of key past entries:
| Category | Element | Year |
| Festivals | Durga Puja in Kolkata | 2021 |
| Kumbh Mela | 2017 | |
| Nowruz (Persian New Year) | 2016 | |
| Ramman (Garhwal Himalayas) | 2009 | |
| Performing Arts | Garba of Gujarat | 2023 |
| Sankirtana (Manipur) | 2013 | |
| Chhau Dance | 2010 | |
| Kalbelia (Rajasthan) | 2010 | |
| Mudiyettu (Kerala) | 2010 | |
| Kutiyattam (Sanskrit Theatre) | 2008 | |
| Ramlila | 2008 | |
| Chanting | Buddhist Chanting of Ladakh | 2012 |
| Vedic Chanting | 2008 | |
| Crafts | Thatheras of Jandiala Guru (Punjab) | 2014 |
| Wellness | Yoga | 2016 |
