Kathmandu — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially declared Diwali as an Intangible World Heritage element.
UNESCO released its updated list of Intangible Cultural Heritage on Wednesday, featuring Diwali alongside cultural symbols and traditions from Ghana, Georgia, Congo, Ethiopia, Egypt, and several other countries.
The UNESCO list includes cultural practices and traditions from around the world that cannot be touched but can be felt and experienced. These elements, often referred to as intangible cultural treasures, aim to preserve heritage and pass it on to future generations.
Various Hindu cultural traditions—including Durga Puja, Kumbh Mela, Vedic chanting, Ramleela, and Chhau dance—had already been inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list in previous years.
With Diwali now added, the festival’s global cultural significance has gained even greater international recognition.
