UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists

UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of India

›  Intangible Cultural Heritage is a UNESCO program initiated in 2001 to recognise and protect various cultures and practices that, unlike items on the UNESCO World Heritage List, cannot be touched.

›  UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance. This list is published by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and its members are elected by State parties meeting in UN General Assembly. Through a compendium of the different oral and intangible treasures of humankind worldwide, the program aims to draw attention to the importance of safeguarding intangible heritage, which UNESCO has identified as an essential component and as a repository of cultural diversity and of creative expression.

›  Intangible cultural heritage includes song, music, drama, skills, crafts, and the other parts of culture that can be recorded but cannot be touched and interacted with, without a vehicle for the culture. These cultural vehicles are called "Human Treasures" by the UN.

›  The list was established in 2008 when the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage took effect.

›  UNESCO divides the list into three different categories:

·   The representative list comprises cultural "practices and expressions that help demonstrate the diversity of this heritage and raise awareness about its importance."

·   The safeguarding list is composed of cultural elements that are threatened and in need of urgent measures to keep them alive.

·   The best practice list is comprised of the best examples by communities and governments of the protection and recognition of intangible cultural heritage.

UNESCO list of Intangible Culture Heritage of India

Mudiyettu

Ramlila

UNESCO list of Intangible Culture Heritage of India 

Official name	Location(s)	List	Year inscribed
Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India	Ladakh	Representative	2012
Chhau dance		Representative	2010
Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan	Rajasthan	Representative	2010
Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala	Kerala	Representative	2010
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz		Representative	2009
Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India		Representative	2009
Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre		Representative	2008
Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana		Representative	2008
Tradition of Vedic chanting		Representative	2008

UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from India

Traditions of India that find a place in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Koodiyattam – a Sanskrit theatrical tradition practiced in a province of Kerala, traditionally performed in theatres called Kuttampalams located in the Hindu temples.

Vedic Chanting – the tradition of Vedic chanting, chanted during sacred rituals and recited daily by the Vedic communities known not only for the rich content of its oral literature but also for the ingenious techniques employed by the Brahmin priests.

Ramlila – The traditional performance of Ramayana performed across North India during the festival of Dussehra. Most representatives are those performed in Sattna, Vrindavan, Varanasi and Ramnagar.

Ramman – A religious festival in honor of the tutelary god, Bhumiyal Devta practiced in the villages of Saloor-Dungra in the state of Uttarakhand. Each of the caste and occupational groups has distinct roles in the festival.

Mudiyett – A ritual dance drama from the state of Kerala based on a mythological tale of a battle between Darika – the demon and goddess Kali.

Kalbelia – A folk song and dance form of Rajasthan. ‘Khanjari’ percussion instrument and the ‘Poongi’, a woodwind instrument are used during the performance. Kalbelia songs disseminate mythological knowledge through stories. At times, the lyrics are spontaneously composed and improvised during the performance.

Chhau Dance – A tradition from eastern India that enacts episodes from epics including the Mahabharata and Ramayana, local folklore and abstract themes. It is closely connected to the regional festivals specifically the Chaitra Parva.

Buddhist Chanting – The sacred texts chanted by the Buddhist lamas (priests) in the Ladakh region. Each of the Buddhist sects has several forms of chanting.

Sankirtana – Includes a set of arts performed to mark religious occasions and various stages in the life of the Vaishnava people of the Manipur plains. 

Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making – The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru constitutes the traditional technique of manufacturing brass and copper utensils in Punjab.

Yoga – The art of unifying the mind with body and soul for greater spiritual, mental and physical well-being. It consists of a series of poses, meditation, controlled breathing, word chanting etc.

Nawrouz – The Persian New year celebrated worldwide. It involves street performances of music and dance, public rituals involving water and fire, traditional sports and the making of handicrafts.

Kumbh Mela – The festival of a sacred pitcher where the pilgrims bathe or take a dip in the sacred river. It is one of the largest human congregations in the world. It is held in four pilgrimage places on the sacred rivers in Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayag.

Frequently asked:

What is tangible and intangible cultural heritage?

Tangible assets include both fixed assets, such as machinery, buildings and land, and current assets, such as inventory. The opposite of a tangible asset is an intangible asset. Nonphysical assets, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, goodwill and brand recognition, are all examples of intangible assets.

‘Tangible Cultural Heritage’ refers to physical artifacts produced, maintained and transmitted intergenerationally in a society. It includes artistic creations, built heritage such as buildings and monuments, and other physical or tangible products of human creativity that are invested with cultural significance in a society. ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ indicates ‘the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their Cultural Heritage’ (UNESCO, 2003). Examples of intangible heritage are oral traditions, performing arts, local knowledge, and traditional skills.

Why culture and heritage are important?

One identifies herself or himself with her or his heritage, which gives a sense of pride. Our cultural heritage is a mirror of our national unity. This function is important because this helps foster a strong sense of national identity.