Explanation - UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List recognises living traditions and skills — unlike monuments or archaeological sites. It includes oral traditions, performing arts, festivals, social practices, traditional craftsmanship, and knowledge of nature. These practices, such as India's Garba and Kumbh Mela or France's baguette-making, are passed across generations, strengthen cultural identity, and preserve humanity's shared heritage. For a cultural practice to be inscribed, UNESCO requires it to be inclusive, representative, and rooted in the community. The aim is to recognise living traditions that embody shared identity and social habits — such as France's baguette-making, which UNESCO says reflects everyday rituals and conviviality. To include an element on UNESCO's Representative List of ICH, states must submit a nomination dossier for evaluation. Each country can nominate one element every two years. India nominated the 'Deepavali' Festival for the 2024–25 cycle. As globalisation and conflict threaten cultural diversity, UNESCO emphasises preserving these social histories. The list also highlights traditions at risk: in 2022, four elements were marked for urgent safeguarding, including Vietnam's Chăm pottery-making, Chile's Santa Cruz de Cuca pottery, Albania's Xhubleta garment craft, and Türkiye's traditional Ahlat stonework. Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, has been inscribed on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 20th Intergovernmental Committee session held at New Delhi's Red Fort. It is now the 16th Indian cultural element on the prestigious list. The inscription recognises Deepavali as a living tradition continuously recreated by communities, fostering social cohesion and contributing to cultural continuity and development.
Explanation - UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List recognises living traditions and skills — unlike monuments or archaeological sites. It includes oral traditions, performing arts, festivals, social practices, traditional craftsmanship, and knowledge of nature. These practices, such as India's Garba and Kumbh Mela or France's baguette-making, are passed across generations, strengthen cultural identity, and preserve humanity's shared heritage. For a cultural practice to be inscribed, UNESCO requires it to be inclusive, representative, and rooted in the community. The aim is to recognise living traditions that embody shared identity and social habits — such as France's baguette-making, which UNESCO says reflects everyday rituals and conviviality. To include an element on UNESCO's Representative List of ICH, states must submit a nomination dossier for evaluation. Each country can nominate one element every two years. India nominated the 'Deepavali' Festival for the 2024–25 cycle. As globalisation and conflict threaten cultural diversity, UNESCO emphasises preserving these social histories. The list also highlights traditions at risk: in 2022, four elements were marked for urgent safeguarding, including Vietnam's Chăm pottery-making, Chile's Santa Cruz de Cuca pottery, Albania's Xhubleta garment craft, and Türkiye's traditional Ahlat stonework. Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, has been inscribed on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 20th Intergovernmental Committee session held at New Delhi's Red Fort. It is now the 16th Indian cultural element on the prestigious list. The inscription recognises Deepavali as a living tradition continuously recreated by communities, fostering social cohesion and contributing to cultural continuity and development.
