In Graphics | Diwali on Unesco’s heritage list: What else has achieved global recognition from India? – Firstpost

Diwali, the festival of lights, has officially been added onto the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Announced at the 20th Unesco Intergovernmental Committee session at New Delhi’s Red Fort from December 8-13, 2025, this landmark decision marks a significant global recognition for one of India’s most cherished and widely celebrated traditions.

Diwali, known as Deepavali, is celebrated across India and by the Indian diaspora worldwide. It symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

India has been a strong advocate for the recognition and preservation of diverse cultural expressions, and its consistent presence on the Unesco lists reflects the nation’s deep commitment to safeguarding its traditions.

With Diwali’s inclusion, India now boasts sixteen elements on the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

These recognised traditions span a wide array of performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, and traditional craftsmanship, reflecting the subcontinent’s incredible diversity:

• 2025 – Deepavali (Diwali): The festival of lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

• 2023 – Garba of Gujarat: A ritualistic and devotional dance performed during the Navratri festival, honouring the feminine divine (Shakti).

• 2021 – Durga Puja in Kolkata: The annual festival celebrating the Hindu goddess Durga, renowned for its large-scale installations (pandals) and communal artistry.

• 2017 – Kumbh Mela:  A massive religious pilgrimage held once every twelve years at four different river bank sites in India.

• 2016 – Yoga: The ancient practice encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines.

• 2016 – Nowruz: The Iranian/Persian New Year celebrated by various communities in Western and Central Asia, including India, marking the spring equinox.

• 2014 –  Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab: A unique process of manufacturing traditional brass and copper utensils by hand.

• 2013 – Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur: A performing art form involving ritual singing, drumming, and dancing performed to narrate the life and deeds of Krishna.

• 2012 – Buddhist chanting of Ladakh, recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India: The recitation of sacred texts in monasteries and villages, embodying the philosophy and history of the Buddhist community.

• 2010 – Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala: A ritual dance drama performed in Bhagavati temples, depicting the battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika.

• 2010 –  Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan: Songs and dances performed by the Kalbelia community, historically nomadic snake charmers, primarily women, in vibrant costumes.

• 2010 – Chhau Dance: A semi-classical Indian dance form with martial, tribal, and folk origins, practiced in three styles in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

• 2009 – Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas: An annual religious festival and ritual theatre performed in the Saloor-Dungra village of Uttarakhand to honour the local deity, Bhumiyal Devta.

• 2008 – Ramlila, the Traditional Performance of the Ramayana: A dramatic folk re-enactment of the life of Lord Rama, performed across North India during the autumn festival of Navratri.

• 2008 – Tradition of Vedic Chanting: The practice of reciting sacred texts and hymns of the Vedas, an ancient oral tradition.

• 2008 – Kutiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre: One of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions, performed primarily in Kerala.

With inputs from agencies