He viewed it as recognition of the universal message of the festival: hope over despair, harmony over division, and light for all.
Historic Moment: Deepavali (Diwali) Gets UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Status
Deepavali (Diwali) has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is the 16th Indian tradition to receive this honour.
The inscription was announced during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is currently being hosted by India at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi.
The committee examined 67 nominations from 79 countries. UNESCO placed Deepavali alongside globally celebrated Indian cultural expressions such as yoga and Durga Puja in marking this recognition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings and said that “people in India and around the world are thrilled.” He described Deepavali as deeply linked to Indian culture, “the soul of our civilisation”, an embodiment of “illumination and righteousness” and expressed hope that the UNESCO recognition will further enhance the festival’s global popularity.
The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, also called the listing a “historic day for India”. He viewed it as recognition of the universal message of the festival: hope over despair, harmony over division, and light for all.
Apart from being a symbolic honour, the inclusion of Deepavali in UNESCO’s list is also part of a broader global effort to safeguard living cultural traditions that carry historical, spiritual, social and artistic value to ensure that they are preserved for future generations.
This recognition of Deepavali highlights India’s rich cultural and civilisational heritage and spotlights the festival’s significance not just within India but across global communities that celebrate it, symbolising the cultural unity, shared heritage, and the enduring relevance of traditional festivals in a rapidly changing world.
Source: Times of India
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