UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages in India

UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage promotes awareness of cultural diversity while at the same time safeguarding specific expressions that face extinction.

 

 

UNESCO has included 14 aspects from India on their list, such as chanting, yoga, Kalbelia and Durga Puja. An intergovernmental committee overseeing the 2003 Convention reviews nomination dossiers and approves overseas aid.

 

 

Ramlila

 

Ramlila, one of India's oldest theatrical traditions, is an unforgettable open-air production depicting Lord Ram and Sita's epic tale. Ramlila involves actors, costume designers, mask artists, dialogue deliverers and musicians whose services are paid for; moreover it also brings people from diverse communities and religions together for this spectacular production.

 

Ramlila performances are typically organized by local committees known as Samitis. Samitis are composed of professional performers who train intensively over months before performing. 

 

Their members are famed for being able to improvise during performances and create unique folk music styles; one such community in Rajasthan known for performing is Kalbelia which performs sensuous snake handling dance known as Kalamezhuthu that impersonates snake movements.

 

 

Kalbelia

 

The Kalbelia dance is an integral component of Rajasthani nomadic tribe of snake charmers' culture and an act of pride for them as entertainers in society.

 

 Recognised by UNESCO in 2010, this lively yet sensuous performance involves women wearing black skirts dancing like serpents to traditional music with lyrics composed on-the-fly; their movements accompanied by traditional musical notes with lyrics written for each movement while wearing elaborate costumes with silver thread embroidered onto fabric or mirrors on them for maximum impact.

 

Swaying body movements and arm whirling create a feeling of exhilaration among audience members. Additionally, dancers perform acrobatic stunts such as bending backwards while standing up to recite an improvised poem to impress and woo audience members.

 

The Kalbelia dance is an expressive form of cultural heritage and innovative response to changing socioeconomic conditions, serving to demonstrate both its heritage and to affirm their identity at a time when their traditional traveling lifestyle and standing within rural Rajasthani society have begun to fade away. Being listed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list demonstrates its value to communities worldwide.

 

Chhau

 

Chhau is a semi-classical Indian dance with both martial and folk elements, recognized by UNESCO in 2010 and found most commonly in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. 

 

Accompanied by traditional music played on shehnai reed pipes and featuring footwork movements that emulate village housewife duties as well as stylized animal and bird gaits stylized gaiting techniques and movements modelled on village housewife responsibilities; its name may have its roots in military practices derived from Odia words such as chhauni (military camp), chhauka (checking something stealthily), and Chhauri (armour) suggesting its origins within military practices chhau is found most frequently within these states: West Bengal Jharkhand and Odisha.

 

Chhau performers are male actors wearing various masks depicting deities, animals, birds, hunters, rainbows, nights and flowers. They perform to traditional and folk music while using shehnai and dhol drumbeats in public venues at night; additionally using mohuri (conical double-reed pipe) and nagara.

 

Recently, a social enterprise has been working closely with Chhau artists to revitalize their art form. They have encouraged collaboration amongst themselves as well as developing new stories; assisted them with costume production; modernized performances; organized international tours for Chhau dancers and provided training opportunities to youth dancers.

 

 

Durga Puja

 

Durga Puja, one of India's most beloved celebrations that honor culture and religion, recently received international acclaim when it was included on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO works towards safeguarding cultural heritage worldwide.

 

The festival is marked by large-scale installations and pavilions located throughout urban areas, traditional Bengali drumming, goddess adoration and celebrations from people from all walks of life from class, creed and ethnic backgrounds - including celebrating "female'shakti", or female power as described by UNESCO in their statement.

 

At its heart lies an economic engine: this festival supports thousands of artisans such as shilpis (sculptors) who create the pratimas and barowari or community organizers who coordinate pujas. Furthermore, it brings Bengalis from across the world together to witness this colorful spectacle of lights.

 

Boral describes India's inscription as an essential step toward protecting and transmitting its living heritage to future generations, imparting artistic consciousness, changing trends, engaging the masses and providing steady income streams - as well as reminding everyone of India and UNESCO's shared history dating back to both being colonial empires at some point.

 

 For more details, the list is :

Year	Intangible Cultural Heritage	Description
2008	The tradition of Vedic chanting	Source: UNESCO The Vedas, regarded as the basic source of knowledge and the sacred foundation of Hinduism, embody one of the world’s oldest surviving cultural traditions. There are four types of Vedas: the Rig Veda (a collection of holy hymns); the Sama Veda (musical arrangements of songs from the Rig Veda and other sources); the Yajur Veda (a collection of priestly prayers and sacrificial rituals); the Atharva Veda (includes incantations and spells).
2008	Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana	Source: UNESCO Ramlila is a stage show that consists of a sequence of episodes from Ramayana. It is played across northern India during the Dussehra festival and is based on Tulsidas’ Ramacharitmanas. The legendary fights between Rama and the god-demon Ravana, Rama’s return from exile, and a series of talks between the gods, saints, and other characters are all part of the performances. Ramlila is most commonly done at Ayodhya, Ramnagar and Benares, Vrindavan, Almora, Sattna, and Madhubani.
2008	Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre	Source: UNESCO Kutiyattam, one of the oldest living theatrical traditions in Kerala’s southern state, was added to the list by UNESCO in 2008. It is one of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions, practised in Kerala. Kuttampalams are traditional theatres, which are generally located in Hindu temples, and are the place where Kutiyattam is traditionally performed. Kutiyattam has a structured and codified dramatic language, with emphasis on Netra Abhinaya (eye expression) and Hasta Abhinaya (the language of gestures). To become a fully-fledged performance, actors must endure 1o-15 years of intensive training. Male performers pass along precise performance guides to their students, which were previously the exclusive and secret property of selected families. To perfect this art form, an actor needs to train for 10-14 years. It is done by elaborating on an occurrence and highlighting the smallest aspects of an act.
2009	Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India	Source: UNESCO The Uttarakhand villages of Saloor and Dungra light up for Ramman when residents come to honour the local governing god Bhumiyal Devta. In 2009, the festival was included on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Ramman consists of highly intricate ceremonies, such as reciting a rendition of the Ramayana and numerous legends, as well as performing songs and masked dances.
2010	Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala	Source: UNESCO Mudiyettu is another cultural heritage that was added to the list in 2010. This theatrical performance enacts the mythological account of Goddess Kali’s battle with the demon Darika at temples known as ‘Bhagavati Kavus’ located in villages along the rivers Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar, and Moovattupuzha. Mudiyettu has performed annually in Bhagavati Kavus, the goddess’ temples, in different villages along the rivers Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar, and Moovattupuzha. At the place, divine figures such as Sage Narada, Lord Shiva, and the spirit of Goddess Kali, or Kalam, are summoned, while Mudiyettu performers undergo a rigorous purifying ritual. Mudiyettu is a significant cultural location for the transmission of the community’s traditional values, ethics, moral codes, and aesthetic ideals to the next generation.
2010	Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan	Source: UNESCO Kalbelia is an Indian intangible cultural heritage. It is thought to have descended from the ancestors of Kanlipar, Guru Gorakhnath’s twelfth disciple. This troupe of snake charmers and dancers was historically hired by royal households for celebratory entertainment. Traditional tattoo designs, jewellery, and clothes elaborately embroidered with miniature mirrors and silver thread are worn by the dancers. Kalbelia melodies tell mythological legends, and particular traditional dances are performed during Holi, the festival of colours. The Kalbelia community takes pride in its song and dance.
2010	Chhau dance	Source: UNESCO Chhau, a dance tradition, recreates scenes from epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, as well as local folklore and abstract concepts. The eastern Indian folk dance, which was included in the UNESCO list in 2010, is based mostly on three separate styles that evolved from the villages of Seraikella, Purulia, and Mayurbhanj. The Chhau dance is done at night in open spaces. Masks depicting characters from the Ramayana or the Mahabharata are worn by performers from Seraikella and Purulia. It has religious overtones and daring motions, such as mock combat tactics utilising props, movements of women conducting daily chores, and bird and animal gaits. Seraikella, Purulia, and Mayurbhanj have distinct styles, with the first two employing masks.
2012	Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India	Source: UNESCO In 2012, UNESCO listed holy Buddhist chanting from the trans-Himalayan area of Ladakh on its list. Buddhist priests or lamas recite Lord Buddha’s teachings and philosophy in the form of hymns in every monastery and community in the region. Ladakh is home to two schools of Buddhism: Mahayana and Vajrayana, as well as four significant sects: Nyngma, Kagyud, Shakya, and Geluk. Each sect has its own style of chanting, which is done in groups, either sitting indoors or with dance in monastery courtyards or private homes. Chanting is practised every day in the monastery assembly hall as a prayer to the deities and for the practitioners’ personal progress. The monks wear religious masks and perform unique hand motions, known as mudras, that represent Lord Buddha. They provide musical rhythm to the chanting by using instruments such as drums, cymbals, and horns.
2013	Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur	Source: UNESCO Sankirtana performances bring the community together, ushering in harmony and unity among Manipur’s Vaishnava community. In 2013, UNESCO included this Manipur indigenous art form on its list. It is mostly done by the Vaishnava community of the region to depict stories and episodes from Lord Krishna’s life. Sankirtana entails environmental and mythological ideas in dance and music. Performers in Sankirtana, a variety of arts done to celebrate religious occasions and various phases in the life of the Vaishnava people, describe Krishna’s lives and actions via song and dance. A typical Sankirtana performance takes place within an enclosed courtyard or temple and includes two drummers and perhaps ten dancers and vocalists. The dance is a divine performance because of its beauty and fluid motions, as if it is a representation of the deity.
2014	The traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India	Source: UNESCO This intangible cultural asset, inscribed in 2014, is exceptionally rare. The Thatheras of Jandiala Guru in Punjab are the forefathers of this skill. They use copper, brass, and other alloys that are said to be beneficial to health. The craft of Jandiala Guru’s Thatheras is Punjab’s traditional method of producing brass and copper utensils. The metals used – copper, brass, and specific alloys – are thought to be healthy. This metalworking tradition is passed down verbally through the generations.
2016	Yoga	Source: UNESCO Yoga is self-explanatory. This age-old Indian practice united the mind, body, and spirit and was added to the list in 2016. The free-hand exercises are designed to have a relaxing effect and to make you feel at one with nature. Previously, it was passed down straight from the guru (teacher) to the shishya (student), but there are now yoga ashrams and wellness centres that offer training to anybody who wants to practise it. Yoga consists of a series of postures known as asanas that are designed to improve both the body and the mind. Controlled breathing patterns, chanting, and meditation are also part of it. Yoga is an ancient Indian practise that focuses on uniting the mind, body, and soul in order to achieve greater mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Every year on June 21, the world celebrates International Yoga Day.
2016	Nowruz	Source: UNESCO Nowruz was inscribed on the Representative List of Humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. People frequently wish for wealth and new beginnings in the New Year. Nowruz, which is celebrated in numerous nations, including India, celebrates the beginning of a new year and is marked with a variety of rites, ceremonies, and other cultural activities that last around two weeks. The gathering around ‘the Table,’ decked with artefacts that symbolise purity, brightness, livelihood, and wealth, to eat a special meal with loved ones, is an important tradition practised during this time.
2017	Kumbh Mela	Source: UNESCO The Kumbh Mela is the world’s biggest peaceful gathering of pilgrims, during which people bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. Ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis, and guests make up the congregation. Every four years, the event is hosted in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik, and millions of people attend regardless of caste, creed, or gender. The Kumbh Mela has a vital spiritual function in the country, having a hypnotic effect on ordinary Indians.
2021	Durga Puja in Kolkata	Source: PIB Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 16th session, which took place from the 13th to the 18th of December 2021 in Paris, France. It is the tenth day of the Hindu mother-goddess Durga’s devotion. Kolkata’s Durga Puja is famed for its traditional celebrations, which include large-scale installations and pavilions in urban areas, as well as Bengali drumming and goddess adoration.