The festival of Deepavali earned global recognition on Wednesday as UNESCO added the festival to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement came during a landmark meeting of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee, being held for the first time in India at Delhi’s Red Fort.
Calling the moment “thrilling”, PM Narendra Modi congratulated the country on the recognition. “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,” PM Modi posted on X.
The 20th session of the committee commenced on December 8 and will be underway till December 13.
With Deepavali’s inclusion, India now has 16 elements on the prestigious list, joining traditions such as the Kumbh Mela, Kolkata’s Durga Puja, Gujarat’s Garba, yoga, Vedic chanting and Ramlila.