The 18th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage(ICH) was held from 5th to 8th December 2023 in Kasane, Republic of Botswana.
- The session was chaired by H.E. Mr Mustaq Moorad, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Botswana to UNESCO.
Highlights of the session:
i.The session inscribed 55 new cultural practices, including India’s Garba Dance, to its Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) List, in response to nominations submitted by 72 countries.
ii.The 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was celebrated during the Session.
About the Committee for the Safeguarding of the ICH:
The Committee promote the objectives of the Convention, guides best practices and makes recommendations on measures for the safeguarding of the ICH.
Vice-Chairpersons: Switzerland, Slovakia, Peru, Bangladesh and Morocco
Rapporteur: Eva Kuminkova (Czechia)
Members: Angola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Czechia, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.
Note: India has been elected to the committee for the 2022-2026 cycle.
About Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention:
The 32nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on 17 October 2003. The convention entered into force in 2006.
The convention is now ratified by 181 State Parties, and the list includes more than 700 traditions and cultural practices.
Gujarat’s Garba Dance entered UNESCO’s List of “Intangible Cultural Heritage”
Gujarat’s popular folk dance form “Garba dance” has been inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity by UNESCO.
- The recognition was granted under the provisions of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of ICH.
- Garba becomes the 15th ICH element from India to join the Representative List of ICH.
- Garba is traditionally performed during Navratri, a 9-day festival dedicated to the worship of goddess Shakti.
Note: The other noted ICH elements from India include: Tradition of Vedic chanting(2008); Yoga(2016); Nawrouz(2016) and Kumbh Mela(2017) and West Bengal’s Durga Puja(2021).
Inclusion of 55 New Items in Cultural Heritage List:
The newly inscribed 55 cultural practices include,
- 6 practices on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
- 45 practices on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
- 4 on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices
With these new inscriptions, 730 cultural practices spread across 145 countries are now a part of UNESCO’s living heritage.
List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding:
The list is composed of intangible heritage elements that concerned communities and States Parties consider require urgent measures to keep them alive.
| S.no | Name of the tradition or cultural practices | Country or Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traditional Glass Blowing | Syria |
| 2 | Traditional knowledge, methods and practices concerning olive cultivation | Türkiye |
| 3 | Xeedho | Djibouti |
| 4 | Mek Mulung | Malaysia |
| 5 | Ingoma Ya Mapiko | Mozambique |
| 6 | Poncho Para’í de 60 Listas de Piribebuy | Republic of Paraguay |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
The primary objective of this list is to promote and recognize cultural diversities practised or followed by different communities across the world.
| S.NO. | Name of the tradition or cultural practices | Country or Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rotterdam Summer Carnival | Netherlands |
| 2 | Production of Atlas and Adras Fabrics | Tajikistan |
| 3 | Sango Festival | Oyo, Nigeria |
| 4 | Dabekh: Traditional Dance form | Palestine |
| 5 | Aklan Pina: Handloom Weaving | Philippines |
| 6 | Polonaise: Traditional Dance form | Poland |
| 7 | Celebration of Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday | Sudan |
| 8 | Alpine Pasture Season | Switzerland |
| 9 | Akhal-Teke: Traditional Horse Breeding | Turkmenistan |
| 10 | Harees(Dish) | Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arabs of Emirates(UAE) |
| 11 | Transhumance: Seasonal droving of livestock | Albania, Andorra, Austria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania and Spain |
| 12 | Sona: Drawings and Geometric figures on sand | Angola |
| 13 | Tradition of blacksmithing in Gyumri | Armenia |
| 14 | Traditional Irrigation | Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland |
| 15 | Junkanoo | Bahamas |
| 16 | Bolero: Poetry turned into Song | Cuba, Mexico |
| 17 | Shuwalid festival | Ethiopia |
| 18 | Al-Mudhif building: Traditional craft skills and arts | Iraq |
| 19 | Arts, skills and practices associated with engraving on metals | Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen |
| 20 | Al-Manouche’: Emblematic culinary practice | Lebanon |
| 21 | Sodai: Straw garden making | Lithuania |
| 22 | Hiragasy: Performing Art | Madagascar |
| 23 | Maltese Village Festival | Malta |
| 24 | Mahadra: Method of transmitting traditional knowledge | Mauritania |
| 25 | Songkran: Thai New Year festival | Thailand |
| 26 | Art of Illumination | Azerbaijan, Iran, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan |
| 27 | Iftan: Socio-cultural tradition | Azerbaijan, Iran, Uzbekistan |
| 28 | Art of Balaban and Mey: Craftsmanship | Azerbaijan, Türkiye |
| 29 | Craftsmanship of mother of Pearl inlay | Azerbaijan, Türkiye |
| 30 | Rickshaws and Rickshaw painting | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| 31 | Ngyon: Rituals of governance and associated expressions in the Bamoun community | Cameroon |
| 32 | Traditional skills of loincloth weaving in Côte d’Ivoire | Co te d’lvoire |
| 33 | Garba: Traditional dance of Gujarat | India |
| 34 | Jamu wellness culture | Indonesia |
| 35 | Sadeh/Sada Celebration | Iran, Tajikistan |
| 36 | Elechek: Kyrgyz female headwear | Kyrgyzstan |
| 37 | Traditional Craft of Naga motif | Lao |
| 38 | Traditional wooden boatbuilding in Carriacou and Petite, Martinique | Grenada |
| 39 | Knowledge, craft and skills of handmade glass production | Czechia, Finland France, Germany, Hungary, Spain |
| 40 | The Practice of Opera singing in Italy | Italy |
| 41 | Ceviche(dish) | Peru |
| 42 | Ch’utillos: Festival of San Bartolom’e and San Ignacio de Loyala | Bolivia |
| 43 | Malhum: Popular poetic and music art | Morocco |
| 44 | Ceramic Arts | Uzbekistan |
| 45 | Midwifery: knowledge, skills and practices | Colombia, Cyprus, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Slovenia, Togo |
Register of Good Safeguarding Practices:
It contains programs, projects and activities that best reflect the principles and the objectives of the Convention.
| S. no | Name of the tradition or cultural practices | Country/Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geel: A community based care model | Belgium |
| 2 | Nyckelharpa: innovative dissemination of music and instrument building tradition with roots | Sweden |
| 3 | ICH safeguarding practices program for the cultural and ecological Sea Turtle festival of Armila | Panama |
| 4 | Bando and Paurandas of the Holy innocents of Caucagua | Venezuela |
Rickshaws and Rickshaw painting in Dhaka:
i.The inclusion of Rickshaws and Rickshaw painting in Dhaka now makes it Bangladesh’s 5th inscription on the List.
ii.Rickshaws and Rickshaw painting, also known as Dhakar Rickshaw or Rickshawchitra.
iii.The motif of Rickshaw Art is an exceptional decorative art and decoration on the body of the 3 wheeled vehicle(Rickshaw) in Bangladesh.
iv.It has become an established part of Dhaka’s cultural tradition as a form of urban folk art.
Italian Opera:
i.Italian Opera is a four-centuries-old art, mixing costume, drama and music.
ii.UNESCO defines Italian Opera, as a physiologically controlled way of singing that enhances the carrying power of the voice in acoustic spaces such as arenas, churches and auditoriums.
iii.Italian Opera developed around the late 1500s and early 1600s in Florence, Italy, at the court of the Medici.
Bahamas “Junkanoo”:
Junkanoo, the vibrant and colourful festival native to The Bahamas, that fosters a sense of community pride, companionship and unity.
- Junkanoos hold unique cultural significance and its role in showcasing the rich heritage of the Caribbean region.
- Its origin dates back to the early 19th century, it is believed Junkanoo was started by enslaved Africans who used their 3 day holiday to celebrate festivals at home.
Thailand’s Songkran:
i.Thailand’s Songkran refers to the sun’s annual passing into the Aries constellation, which marks the traditional start of the new year.
ii.It is annually celebrated during the mid-April.
iii.Pouring water is a significant act during Songkran, symbolizing cleansing, reverence and good fortune.
19th session:
The next committee session(19th session) will be held in December 2024. It will be chaired by Paraguay.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO):
Director-General– Audrey, Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Established– 1945
