"Historic Moment": UNESCO Adds Deepavali To Intangible Cultural Heritage List
New Delhi: The United Nations agency on Wednesday, December 10, added India’s Deepavali, known as the festival of light, to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The decision to inscribe the cultural festival as an intangible heritage was taken during a key meeting of UNESCO being hosted at the Red Fort in Delhi. Deepavali celebrates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, with regional customs from northern firecrackers to southern kolam designs.
🔴 BREAKING
New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage List: Deepavali, #India🇮🇳.
Congratulations!https://t.co/xoL14QknFp #LivingHeritage pic.twitter.com/YUM7r6nUai
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) December 10, 2025
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India was hosting a session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for the first time. The 20th session of the panel is underway from December 8 to 13 at the Red Fort. Over 1,200 delegates from 150 countries gathered at the event.
India’s Culture Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, called the announcement a historic moment of pride, as communities worldwide—from Bahrain to New Zealand—lit lamps in celebration, marking India’s 16th century, highlighting traditions passed down through generations.
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Currently, India has elements inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and these include the Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja of Kolkata, Garba dance of Gujarat, yoga, the tradition of Vedic chanting and Ramlila.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that people in India and around the world are thrilled. “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,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.
