A total of 67 nominations from nearly 80 countries, including India’s ‘Deepavali’ festival, will be reviewed during the nearly week-long key session of UNESCO focused on the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, which commenced at Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday.
The 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is taking place at the renowned Mughal-era heritage site from December 8 to 13.
This marks the first occasion that India is hosting a session of the UNESCO panel.
The committee will assess a “total of 67 nominations submitted by 79 countries” for inclusion on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage lists, as stated by the Paris-based organization.
“Beyond mere recognition, these lists serve as a significant tool for preservation — as the last weavers of the Poncho Para’i in Paraguay can confirm,” it noted.
The ancestral and traditional methods for creating the ‘Poncho Para’i de 60 Listas’, originating from the city of Piribebuy, Paraguay, were inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2023.
Further details regarding the proceedings
On Monday, Vishal V Sharma, India’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, commenced the proceedings with his address as the chair of this year’s session.
Subsequently, Sharma, along with Ernesto Ottone R, Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, and Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal, conducted a press conference organized by the global organization.
“Conducting this session here reinforces the commitment we share with this nation, not only towards the protection of our collective heritage but also in safeguarding cultural practices,” stated Ottone.
He underscored UNESCO’s aspiration to position culture at the “core of development and crisis-response strategies,” while also ensuring its sustainable funding.
“We share a unified vision to establish culture as a cornerstone of humanity and a catalyst for peace and intercultural dialogue… In this 2025 cycle, a diverse array of elements nominated for inscription pertains to craftsmanship, including musical instruments, crafts, gastronomy, and performing arts,” he further remarked.
These elements highlight the significance of living heritage in the inter-generational transmission of invaluable cultural practices, according to the UNESCO Assistant Director-General.
As of now, 788 practices from 150 nations are recorded on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
“This week, we may have the privilege of witnessing 67 new traditions and practices being added to our various lists,” Ottone informed the press.
67 nominations have been submitted.
Following a thorough evaluation process, facilitated by the dialogue between UNESCO and state parties, these 67 nominations from various state parties underscore the significance of community involvement and the importance of inter-generational transmission in preserving these traditions, he noted.
“Among these is one nomination from the host country for the inscription of Deepavali celebrations, which aligns perfectly with our mission. Deepavali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Africa is “showcasing its vitality” in the preservation of cultural heritage, Ottone stated.
Currently, 39 African nations have inscribed elements of intangible cultural heritage. This year, a total of nine elements have been submitted as nominations for inscription, he mentioned.
Ottone also indicated that the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage represents millions of practitioners and local community members globally, aiding in the preservation of living heritage and also providing a means of livelihood.
He emphasized that this year is also a “remarkable year for cultural cooperation with nine transnational nominations”.
The Convention is “increasingly fostering” dialogue and collaboration between states across borders.
However, the process does not conclude with an inscription; rather, it signifies the commencement of a journey, he asserted.
It necessitates a “continuous effort that we must collectively undertake, involving member states, communities, and NGOs,” he added.
The Committee convenes annually to assess nominations put forth by the state parties to the 2003 Convention and to determine whether to inscribe those cultural practices and expressions of intangible heritage on the Convention’s lists.
Culture Secretary Aggarwal stated that UNESCO’s primary theme “as we understand it is to promote peace through culture.”
Four new galleries have been established within the Red Fort complex. Two of these galleries feature artefacts sourced from the Air India collection, which was acquired following the privatisation of Air India,” Aggarwal stated, noting that the curation was undertaken by the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Delhi.
One gallery dedicated to arms and armaments has been curated by the National Museum. The fourth gallery focuses on archaeological items that have been excavated or discovered within the Red Fort grounds, he mentioned.
These galleries have been installed in four barracks from the British era located on the Red Fort grounds, Aggarwal added.
The opening ceremony of the meeting took place on Sunday, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar serving as the chief guest.
In a post on X on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that hosting the UNESCO session demonstrates the nation’s dedication to leveraging the power of culture to unite societies and generations.
