UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

• According to UNESCO, cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects, but also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.
• UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of such important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance. 
• The list was established in 2008 when the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage took effect.

Intangible Cultural Heritage elements from India

• The following 14 traditional-cultural elements of India have been added into this list:
  • Tradition of Vedic chanting
  • Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana
  • Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre
  • Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas
  • Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
  • Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
  • Chhau dance of Eastern India
  • Buddhist chanting of Ladakh
  • Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur
  • Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab
  • Yoga
  • Nawrouz
  • Kumbh Mela
  • Durga Puja in Kolkata.

Why in News?

• Gujarat’s traditional dance form ‘Garba’ has been included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) .
• The popular dance form is the 15th cultural item from India to make it to the UNESCO list. Kolkata’s Durga Puja was the last one added two years ago.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/garba-of-gujarat-makes-it-to-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list/article67611502.ece