India nominates GARBA to be inscribed on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list

Garba is the dance form which originates from the state of Gujarat in India.

Many traditional garbas are performed around a centrally lit lamp or a picture or statue of the Goddess Shakti. Traditionally, it is performed during the nine-day Hindu festival Navaratri.

The Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2003 and entered into force in 2006.

It comprises 24 members and is elected in the General Assembly of the Convention according to the principles of equitable geographical representation and rotation.

Members of the Committee are elected for a term of four years.

India has 14 intangible cultural heritage elements on the prestigious UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

1Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre

2The tradition of Vedic chanting

3Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana

4Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India

5Chhau dance

6Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan

7Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala

8Durga Puja in Kolkata

9Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India

10Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur

11Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India

12Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz

13Yoga

14Kumbh Mela