Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO?

(a) Chhau dance

(b) Durga puja

(d) Kumbh mela

The correct answer is (c) Garba dance.

Garba dance was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO in 2023 .

Explanation

Chhau dance:
- Inscribed in 2010 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- It is a traditional dance from eastern India, enacting episodes from epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and local folklore .
Durga Puja:
- Inscribed in 2021 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- It is an annual festival celebrated in September or October, most notably in Kolkata, marking the ten-day worship of the Hindu mother-goddess Durga .
Garba dance:
- Inscribed in 2023 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- It is a ritualistic and devotional dance performed during the Hindu festival of Navaratri, dedicated to the worship of the feminine energy or Shakti .
Kumbh Mela:
- Inscribed in 2017 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- It is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, held every four years by rotation in four different cities in India .

Learn more

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List:
- Purpose: To ensure better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and to raise awareness of their significance.
- Categories:
  - Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: Demonstrates the diversity of cultural heritage and raises awareness about its importance.
  - List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding: Includes cultural elements that require urgent measures to keep them alive.
  - Register of Good Safeguarding Practices: Showcases successful examples of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage .
Criteria for Inscription:
- Community Involvement: The practice must involve the community and be recognized as a symbol of their identity and continuity.
- Visibility and Awareness: Inscription should encourage cooperation and dialogue between communities and promote the visibility of intangible cultural heritage.
- Safeguarding Measures: There must be national and local measures in place to encourage and sustain the practice.
- Consent: The nomination must be submitted with the participation and consent of the communities of practitioners.
- Inventory Inclusion: The practice must be included in a national inventory of intangible cultural heritage .
Significance:
- Cultural Diversity: Intangible cultural heritage is a repository of cultural diversity and creative expression.
- Transmission: It is transmitted across generations through practice, performance, imitation, and observation.
- Social Cohesion: Many practices foster social equality and strengthen community bonds by being inclusive and participative .