Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

UNESCO adds India's Durga Puja to ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ list

UNESCO adds India's Durga Puja to ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ list

THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has added Durga Puja, one of India’s major festivals, to its ‘Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in a first of its kind move in Asia.

In a tweet, the world body wrote, “Celebrations of city of joy - Kolkata! Durga puja has been added to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”


Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the Bengali community and Kolkata, the capital of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal which is also called the ‘City of Joy’, celebrates the festival in a grand way every year.

The 16th Committee of UNESCO for safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) at its meeting held in Paris, France, on Wednesday (15) inscribed the Kolkata festival on the ICH of Humanity. It is the first festival from Asia to make its way into the list.

There were 48 nominations.

An evaluation body featuring six ICH experts reviewed the nominations and made recommendations to the committee to take the final decision. The committee approved the decision to pick Durga Puja in Kolkata for the list.

According to a report in Indo-Asian News Service, UNESCO also commended the concerned organisations in the ‘City of Joy’ for their efforts to involve marginalised groups and individuals besides women in their participation in protecting the intangible cultural heritage.

The other festivals that have been recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are three each from South America and Europe.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee thanked the world body over its decision and said it was a huge honour. She said Bengal truly became international with the honour.

In a tweet, the supremo of the Trinamool Congress party said, “Proud moment for Bengal! To every #Bengali across the world, Durga Puja is much more than a festival, it is an emotion that unites everyone. And now, #DurgaPuja has been added to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. We are all beaming with joy!”

Durga Puja’s inclusion in the list underlines not only the significance of the festival but also efforts made by the Banerjee government to highlight the cultural richness of the state.

The Durga Puja carnival organised at the end of the festivities on Kolkata’s Red Road is a unique event. It attracts people from all walks of life who collectively celebrate the diverse culture of Bengal epitomised in Durga Puja festival.

In a statement, the government of Bengal said, “We are proud of our Durga Puja and it is our proud and historic moment. It is a red-letter day for us. Bengal is now ‘Biswa Bangla’ in a real sense. Congratulations to all the people of Bengal, the country and the world. We convey our thanks and gratitude to UNESCO for the recognition bestowed on this great festival as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”

Banerjee, who has emerged as a major anti-Narendra Modi face in Indian politics, also used the occasion to slam the prime minister’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying the UNESCO’s move was embarrassing for the saffron party.

It may be recalled here that the BJP leadership often accused Banerjee of disallowing Durga Puja in her state and encouraging the festivals of a minority community.

Prime minister Modi tweeted in Bengali saying, "A matter of pride and joy for every Indian! Durga Puja highlights the best aspects of our cultural and spiritual characteristics. And, everyone should have the experience of Durga Puja in Kolkata."

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less