• Source:JND
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The festival of lights, Diwali, has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list of Humanity. Deepavali or Diwali is a new inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognised alongside cultural symbols and traditions newly added from many other countries across the globe, including nations like Ghana, Georgia, Congo, Ethiopia, and Egypt, among others.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), UNESCO wrote, “New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage List: Deepavali, #India. Congratulations!”

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Diwali is a widely celebrated Hindu festival in India, and has officially been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The key decision to inscribe the festival on the cultural heritage list was made during a key meeting of UNESCO, which is currently being hosted at the Red Fort in Delhi. Hindustan Times reported.

Delhi’s Minister for Art, Culture, Language and Tourism, Kapil Mishra, termed it a historic moment for India’s cultural identity. The formal announcement confirming Diwali's inscription into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list is scheduled for December 10 at the Red Fort in Delhi, where large-scale celebrations are currently being planned to mark the occasion.

What Is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List Of Humanity?

According to UNESCO, cultural heritage extends beyond "monuments and collections of objects," encompassing "traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts."

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As defined by UNESCO, intangible cultural heritage is "traditional, contemporary and living at the same time," and it must be "inclusive," "representative," and "community-based." It is “an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalisation” and “an understanding of the intangible cultural heritage of different communities helps with intercultural dialogue, and encourages mutual respect for other ways of life”.

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