New Delhi, December 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed UNESCO’s inscription of Deepavali (Diwali) on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, saying the festival is closely linked to India’s culture and ethos and will gain further global recognition.
In a post on X, Modi wrote: “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.”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also praised the inscription on X, calling it “a recognition of the festival’s immense cultural, religious and spiritual significance and of its role in bringing people together.”
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced the listing, describing it as a joyous moment and noting Deepavali’s association with the triumph of good over evil and the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. He added that the festival, celebrated globally, marks the last harvest of the year and the start of a new season.
UNESCO’s description on its website says Deepavali is a light festival observed annually across India by diverse communities. It falls on the new moon in October or November, lasts several days, and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Celebrations include cleaning and decorating homes and public spaces, lighting lamps and candles, setting off fireworks, and offering prayers for prosperity and new beginnings.
Several Indian cultural expressions are already on UNESCO’s list: Ramlila (the Ramayana performance) was inscribed in 2008; Kumbh Mela in 2017; Yoga in 2016; the traditional brass and copper utensil craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru in 2014; Durga Puja in Kolkata in 2021; Garba from Gujarat in 2023; and Navroz from India in 2024.
UNESCO defines intangible cultural heritage as practices, expressions, knowledge, objects, and spaces that communities recognize as part of their cultural identity. These living traditions, passed down through generations, evolve over time and strengthen cultural identity while promoting appreciation of diversity.
To safeguard such heritage, UNESCO adopted the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on October 17, 2003, in Paris, responding to concerns that living cultural traditions were threatened by globalization, social change, and limited resources. (ANI)
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