India’s Diwali, the festival of lights, has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a recognition that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said filled the country with pride.
The announcement was made during the 20th UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee session, held at New Delhi’s Red Fort from December 8–13. Diwali now becomes the 16th Indian element on the prestigious list.
The decision was adopted in the presence of delegates from 194 UNESCO Member States, along with international experts and representatives from UNESCO’s global network.
The recognition process
To include an element on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), countries must submit a nomination dossier for evaluation.
Each nation can nominate one element every two years. India nominated the ‘Deepavali’ festival for the 2024–25 cycle.
The Ministry of Culture welcomed the decision, noting that the inscription will boost global awareness of India’s intangible cultural heritage and strengthen efforts to safeguard community-based traditions for future generations.
PM Modi reacts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the recognition as a moment that left India “thrilled.”
“People in India and around the world are thrilled. For us, Deepavali is deeply linked to our culture and ethos. It embodies the soul of our civilisation, symbolising illumination and righteousness. Its addition to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List will further enhance the festival’s global popularity,” Modi wrote on X.
