Diwali inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list

Key facts

• Diwali was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) held at the Red Fort in Delhi.
• India currently has 15 elements inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja of Kolkata, Garba dance of Gujarat, yoga, the tradition of Vedic chanting, and Ramlila.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi, the nodal agency for ICH matters of the Ministry of Culture, formed a committee comprising experts, academicians, practitioners, poets, and writers for the nomination of Diwali.
• India has sent a nomination dossier for Bihar’s Chhat Puja for the next year’s cycle for the consideration of the UNESCO committee.