New Delhi

The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage will examine India’s nomination of the festival of “Deepavali” when it convenes in Delhi next week, officials said.

For the first time, India will serve as host of the committee’s annual session. The 20th meeting of the panel is scheduled from December 8 to 13 and will be held at the Red Fort.

India currently has 15 cultural practices featured on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These include Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja of Kolkata, the Garba dance tradition, yoga, Vedic chanting and the Ramlila performance tradition.

According to a senior official, India submitted its nomination dossier for Deepavali in 2023, and it will be evaluated during the 2024-25 cycle of inscriptions.

UNESCO said the upcoming session will consider fresh nominations from member states, review the status of items already on the list, and examine requests for international support aimed at preserving intangible cultural traditions. Ambassador Vishal V Sharma, India’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, will chair the proceedings.

Sharma earlier described the hosting of the session as an important cultural milestone for India.

Security arrangements around the Red Fort are being reinforced, as the meeting comes less than a month after a deadly car explosion near the monument on November 10 that left 15 people dead and more than two dozen injured.

The Archaeological Survey of India announced that the Red Fort complex, a protected 17th-century site built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, would remain closed to visitors from December 5 to 14 due to the event. Several colonial-era barracks inside the fort will be used as venues during the session, officials confirmed.

The Ministry of Culture and the Sangeet Natak Akademi are coordinating the preparations. The government has said that hosting the session reflects India’s commitment to strengthening the link between tangible and intangible heritage and advancing cultural diplomacy.

Sources indicate that the inaugural gathering may take place on December 7, though an official announcement has not yet been made.

Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, said that more than 800 participants from over 180 countries—including committee members, UNESCO representatives, NGOs, experts and practitioners—are expected to attend.

Key discussions will include progress reports on safeguarding measures for existing listed traditions, requests for international assistance, deliberations on methodologies for preserving living heritage, and long-term planning for intangible cultural heritage protection.

According to the government, India’s role as host provides significant diplomatic advantages, enhances its cultural outreach, and reinforces international cooperation in heritage conservation. It also gives India a platform to highlight its rich cultural traditions and engage younger generations in heritage awareness.

On Diwali this year, UNESCO’s India office shared a message highlighting the shared spirit of the festival and the upcoming session, noting that India’s nomination of Deepavali underscores the unifying power of living traditions.

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The December meeting follows the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, which was held in New Delhi in July 2024 at the Bharat Mandapam.