By Paramita Datta
The festival of lights, also known as Deepavali, is also a festival that is included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Not just Deepavali, cultural customs from countries like Ghana Georgia, The Congo Ethiopia and Egypt have also been incorporated. However, this Wednesday UNESCO has praised India for its global recognition by sharing it on social media. India intends to host a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
To promote protection and promotion of important cultural traditions across the globe, the conference, a special meeting at the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi, was held. Being one of the most important holidays in this country, Diwali (or Deepavali) is celebrated by millions in India and globally.
The inclusion on the list shows the festival’s cultural significance is recognised on a global scale; this stage will benefit people from various countries, which will eventually aid in improving knowledge of Indian traditions and culture. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Culture Minister of India, also responded to the festival’s inclusion on the list by saying that it is very important to all Indians and has been celebrated for generations.
This inclusion received praise from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People in India and around the world expressed their joy over this decision. He further stated that Deepavali is intimately associated with Indian cultural values and lifestyle. According to him, the celebration is the spirit of the culture in India and teaches the value of good over evil. He continued by saying that Diwali will become more well known worldwide as a result of this recognition. The Prime Minister also expressed optimism that people will always be guided by the principles taught by Lord Shri Ram, which were to pursue the path of honesty and goodness.