UNESCO, the educational, scientific and cultural agency of the United Nations. It was announced on Wednesday that Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, has been added to its intangible cultural heritage list.
“People in India and around the world are thrilled,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Twitter after the announcement.
He called Diwali “the soul of our civilization”, and said the move would “contribute to increasing the global popularity of the festival even further.”
What is Diwali, India’s festival of lights?
Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals of Hinduism.
Millions of devotees including Sikh and Jain religious communities celebrate the five-day festival.
Diwali, which occurs on the new moon day in late October or November, symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
It is the 16th Indian tradition to be included in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list, joining Yoga, Hindu pilgrimage Kumbh Mela and Kolkata’s Durga Puja festival.
What are the other new additions to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List?
UNESCO members are meeting in New Delhi this week to review dozens of nominations submitted by 78 countries.
The new additions will join the cultural heritage list, which has been created to “raise awareness of the diversity” of traditions passed from one generation to the next and ensure their protection for the future.
are here Some new traditions added to the list this year,
- Koshari, Egypt’s main street food
- Al-Muhaybis, a game usually played during the month of Ramadan in Iraq
- New Year celebration of the Gifata, Wolaita people in Ethiopia
- Commanderia from Cyprus, one of the oldest wines
- Ghanaian high life music and dance
- Chile’s circus traditions
- Italian cooking
Iceland’s swimming pool culture also added to UNESCO cultural heritage list
Swimming pools are a big part of Iceland’s culture.
“Swimming pool culture holds a special and important place in the daily lives of Icelanders,” Lilja Alfredsdóttir, former Minister of Culture and Trade of Iceland, said in 2024, when it was confirmed. This Icelandic culture was nominated for UNESCO status,
“Meeting in a hot tub or going swimming with the family is a social connection that is invaluable and leaves its mark not only physically, but spiritually as well,” he said.
Edited by: Louis Olofse