Deepavali, India’s festival of lights, was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List on Dec 10.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it “the soul of our civilisation”.
The decision, announced in Delhi, aims to preserve global cultural traditions. Celebrations include special illuminations across the capital and a mass lamp-lighting event.
The UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List offers recognition to living traditions from across the world, such as festivals, social rituals, performing arts, knowledge of nature that requires safeguarding, craftsmanship, and similar elements.
With the list, UNESCO aims to promote a global understanding of cultural diversity across nations, ensuring that these traditions and more are preserved for future generations.
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10 Dec 2025 18:38
