Khaberni - UNESCO experts begin their deliberations in India today, Monday, concerning the practices and traditions that should be declared as intangible cultural heritage, with nominations this year including Swiss yodeling and Italian cooking.
A collection of 66 customs and crafts from around the world has been nominated for inclusion in one of the three cultural heritage lists of the cultural and educational body of the United Nations.
The nominations also include the culture of swimming baths in Iceland and Deepavali, which is a Hindu festival of lights also known as Diwali.
In addition, the tradition of wooden puppets (rod marionette) in Brussels, as well as the Gifata festival, which is a New Year festival celebrated by the Wolaita people in Ethiopia, have been nominated.
For a practice or craft to be officially announced as intangible cultural heritage, it must be passed from generation to generation and kept alive by a community, among other criteria.
Christoph Wolff, Deputy Chair of the German Commission for UNESCO, stated: "Intangible cultural heritage represents cultural participation, diversity, and vitality."
The twentieth session of the International Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is being held in New Delhi from Monday to Saturday.
The experts will examine 11 nominations for the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and 54 nominations for inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in addition to one proposal for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.
