UNESCO declares Kumbh Mela as India’s ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’
The list describes Kumbh Mela as “the festival of the sacred Pitcher” where pilgrims bathe or take a dip in a sacred river.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said it is “a matter of immense joy and pride for India” that the Kumbh Mela was declared as India’s ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by UNESCO. The event was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The annual congregation of pilgrims was one of the 33 new additions this year. The list includes forms of expression that testify to the diversity of the intangible heritage and raise awareness of its importance.
The list describes Kumbh Mela as “the festival of the sacred Pitcher” where pilgrims bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. “The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis and visitors. The tradition plays a central spiritual role in the country, encapsulating a diverse range of cultural customs. Knowledge and skills relating to Kumbh Mela are mainly imparted through the teacher-student relationship, but transmission and safeguarding are also ensured through oral traditions and religious and historical texts,” the statement reads.
The decision was taken by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting in Jeju, South Korea. Other additions on the list include Bangladesh’s traditional art of Shital Pati weaving, which basically refers to the art form of weaving strips of green cane into a handcrafted mat, usually used for prayer purposes.
News Source: indianexpress.com
You might also like
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security suspends IndiGo’s security training centre licence
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has suspended the licence of budget carrier IndiGo’s aviation security training facility for alleged lapses in the examination system conducted by it. The orders issued
Fly Mumbai to Manchester with Jet Airways
Tapping the Indian diaspora in Northern England Jet Airways has recently announced the launch of its first non-stop service between Mumbai and Manchester starting this winter. Jet Airways, one of
When Cinema Meets Travel: How Georgia Is Captivating Indian Travellers Through the Power of Film
Georgia is fast emerging as one of the most compelling examples of how on-screen storytelling can translate into real-world travel inspiration. According to Maia Omiadze, Head of the Georgian National
