Lok Sabha Question No. 3170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Raja Amareshwara Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3170 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## UNESCO'S LIST OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

## 3170.         SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state

- (a) the details of all elements from India in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps towards inclusion of more Indian elements on this list;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the progress made so far, and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)       whether the Government is taking any other steps to promote Indian Intangible Cultural Heritage on a global platform;
- (e)        if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## (SHRI G.KISHAN REDDY)

(a)    The  details  of  14  ICH  elements  from  India  which  have  been  included  in  the  UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are attached as Annexure .

(b)  &  (c)  As  per  the  latest  Operational  Directives  of  UNESCO,  only  one  nomination  per submitting  country  is  to  be  considered  every  two  years.  Thus  the  Government  ensures  that nominations from India are submitted timely as per UNESCO's mandate.

(d)  to  (f)  Yes  Sir,  the  Government  is  administering  a  Scheme  named  'Global  Engagement Scheme'.   The Scheme has following two components:

- 1) Festival of India
- 2) Grant in aid to Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies Scheme.

The objective of the scheme is to provide artists practicing Indian art forms an opportunity to  perform  abroad  under  the  banner  of  Festival  of  India.  The  scheme  also  provides  financial assistance  to  cultural  societies  actively  promoting  Indian  Culture  abroad  to  organize  cultural activities.

## Annexure  referred  in  part  (a)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.3170  for  Reply  on 20.03.2023 regarding UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

## Indian ICH elements inscribed in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

|   S.No. | ICH Element                                                                                                                     |   Year of Inscription |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
|       1 | Tradition of Vedic chanting                                                                                                     |                  2008 |
|       2 | Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana                                                                            |                  2008 |
|       3 | Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre                                                                                                    |                  2008 |
|       4 | Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India                                                   |                  2009 |
|       5 | Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala                                                                             |                  2010 |
|       6 | Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan                                                                                     |                  2010 |
|       7 | Chhau dance                                                                                                                     |                  2010 |
|       8 | Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India |                  2012 |
|       9 | Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur                                                                     |                  2013 |
|      10 | Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India                        |                  2014 |
|      11 | Yoga                                                                                                                            |                  2016 |
|      12 | Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz                              |                  2016 |
|      13 | Kumbh Mela                                                                                                                      |                  2017 |
|      14 | Durga Puja in Kolkata                                                                                                           |                  2021 |