The prestigious UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity recently welcomed a new member – Durga Puja in Kolkata, India. As the first festival from Asia to earn this recognition, it marks a significant milestone in acknowledging Asia’s rich cultural heritage. This news followed an earlier announcement designating the Harappan City of Dholavira in Gujarat as India’s 40th World Heritage Site.
Durga Puja: A Celebration of Shakti
Durga Puja is a five-day annual festival that commences on the fifth night of the Navratri festival and concludes on Dashami. It represents collective worship to Goddess Durga, revered as the feminine energy of the cosmos or ‘Shakti’. Known as one of the largest cultural carnivals and street art festivals in India, Durga Puja allows people to celebrate together, gathered around intricately-designed clay models of the Goddess that are housed in ‘pandals’ or pavilions. Culinary arts, folk music, craft and performing arts traditions add to the festivity. Although it originates in West Bengal, home to the largest Bengali community in India, the celebration has crossed state borders and is marked in various parts of India and the world.
The Economic and Social Significance
Durga Puja is not just a religious event but has profound socio-economic impacts. The festival contributes significantly to sustaining traditional arts and crafts, promotes the economic empowerment of communities and fuels creativity. In 2021, the British Council in India valued the creative economy of Durga Puja at over Rs. 32,000 crore for the year 2019, contributing 2.58% of West Bengal’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
A Look into UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
The UNESCO’s List of ICH encompasses elements that exhibit the diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its significance. As outlined by UNESCO, cultural heritage extends beyond monuments and objects to embrace living expressions passed down through generations, comprising oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature, and craftsmanship skills. Established in 2008, this list aims to safeguard intangible cultural heritage. With 492 entries, India now boasts 14 listings.
UNESCO: A Brief Overview
Founded in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aspires to cultivate peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. Its programmes are designed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals earmarked in Agenda 2030 by the UN General Assembly in 2015. UNESCO houses 193 Members and 11 Associate Members, with India having been a member since 1946. The organization, headquartered in Paris, France, is currently spearheading a global movement to establish ocean-based tsunami warning systems through its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC), as part of an overall multi-hazard disaster reduction strategy.
Other Initiatives of UNESCO
In addition to the aforementioned ventures, UNESCO also launches a range of other initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting worldwide cultural and natural heritage. These include the Man and Biosphere Programme, World Heritage Programme, UNESCO Global Geopark Network, and UNESCO’s Network of Creative Cities. These programmes facilitate the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, the identification and preservation of cultural and natural heritage of universal value, the promotion of sustainably managed landscapes of worldwide geological significance, and the endorsement of cities that invest in culture and creativity respectively.
