Intangible Cultural Heritage of India

• Context (TH): UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage accredits Keremane Idagunji Mahaganapati Yakshagana Mandali.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

• UNESCO defines “intangible” as “expressions that have:
  • Passed from one generation to another.
  • Evolved in response to their environments.
  • Contributed to giving us a sense of identity and continuity.
• According to an official document by UNESCO, ‘intangible cultural heritage’ includes “oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.”
• UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was established in 2008.

India’s Intangible Cultural Heritage

1. Garba of Gujarat (2023)
2. Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021)
3. Kumbh Mela (2017)
4. Navroz (2016)
5. Yoga (2016)
6. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab (2014)
7. Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur (2013)
8. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir (2012)
9. Chhau dance (2010)
10. Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan (2010)
11. Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala (2010)
12. Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas (2009)
13. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre (2008)
14. Tradition of Vedic chanting (2008)
15. Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana (2008)