Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Tradition of Vedic Chanting was inscribed by UNESCO in 2008 (proclaimed in 2003).

Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana, is primarily performed in the Gangetic plains of North India, particularly in cities like Varanasi and Ayodhya.

Kutiyattam, a Sanskrit theatre tradition from Kerala, is one of the oldest living theatrical traditions in the world and was inscribed in 2008.

Ramman is a religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal region in Uttarakhand, inscribed in the UNESCO list in 2009.

Mudiyettu is a ritual theatre and dance drama from Kerala based on the mythological tale of goddess Bhadrakali and the demon Darika.

Kalbelia folk songs and dances are an expression of the Kalbelia community of Rajasthan, inscribed in 2010.

Chhau dance is a tradition from eastern India, specifically West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha, and has three styles: Purulia, Seraikella, and Mayurbhanj.

The Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region was inscribed in 2012.

Sankirtana is a performance art form from Manipur that involves singing, drumming, and dancing to describe the lives of Krishna, inscribed in 2013.

The traditional brass and copper craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru (Punjab) was inscribed on the Representative List in 2014.

Yoga, an ancient practice aimed at the harmony of the mind and body, was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2016.

Nawrouz, the Persian New Year, is celebrated by the Parsi community in India and was inscribed in 2016.

Kumbh Mela is held at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. Varanasi is not one of the four sites for Kumbh Mela.

Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.

Garba of Gujarat was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2023.

The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by UNESCO in 2003.

Mudiyettu is the ritual theatre from Kerala that features in the UNESCO list.

The Thatheras of Jandiala Guru are located in Punjab, India.

Sankirtana of Manipur is an art form involving singing, drumming, and dancing performed in temples and homes to mark religious occasions.

Kutiyattam is the oldest existing Sanskrit theatre tradition, traditionally performed in temples in Kerala.

Mudiyettu is a ritual dance drama from Kerala depicting the triumph of Goddess Bhadrakali over the demon Darika.

The tradition of Vedic Chanting, specifically the Rigveda chanting, was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2008.

The Kalbelia dance is a folk dance from the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, performed by the community of the same name.

Chhau dance has three distinct styles: Seraikella (Jharkhand), Purulia (West Bengal), and Mayurbhanj (Odisha).

Sankirtana involves ritual singing, drumming (using the Pung), and dancing to celebrate the religious lives of the Vaishnava people of Manipur.

The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru involves the traditional skill of making high-quality brass and copper utensils using manual hammering techniques.

Nawrouz is the Persian New Year, which is celebrated by the Parsi community in India and is recognized as an intangible heritage by UNESCO.

The Buddhist chanting in the monasteries of the Ladakh region involves the recitation of sacred texts in the Bhoti language.

Ramman is an annual religious festival held in the Saloor-Dungra village of the Painkhanda Valley in the Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.

Kutiyattam is an ancient Sanskrit theatre tradition practiced in Kerala, recognized by UNESCO for its historical significance.

Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed in 2021 as a vibrant, inclusive festival involving massive public art installations and community participation.

Yoga, a physical, mental, and spiritual practice, was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.

The Kumbh Mela is held at four sites: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik. Varanasi is not a site for the Kumbh Mela.

The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2003.

Kathakali is a major form of classical Indian dance and drama from Kerala, characterized by elaborate makeup and heavy costumes.

Garba of Gujarat was inscribed as an element of India's intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in December 2023.

The Ramman festival involves masked dances and plays that depict the life and religious stories of local deities and epic themes.

The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru (Punjab) is recognized for its unique community-based metalwork tradition.

Sankirtana is an art form practiced primarily by the Vaishnava community of Manipur, deeply rooted in the philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

Kutiyattam is performed in traditional theater halls called Kootambalams, which are found within the premises of temples in Kerala.

Mudiyettu is a ritual dance-drama from Kerala that enacts the battle between Goddess Bhadrakali and the demon Darika.

Vedic Chanting of the Vedas has been preserved primarily through the oral tradition of chanting passed down from teacher to student for millennia.

Ramman is a religious festival of the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand, particularly in the Painkhanda Valley.

Chhau is a semi-classical Indian dance with martial, tribal, and folk traditions. The Seraikella and Purulia styles use masks, while the Mayurbhanj style does not.

The Kalbelia tribe, also known as 'Sapera' or snake charmers, were traditionally nomadic people who catch snakes and trade snake venom.

Kutiyattam is an ancient Sanskrit theatre tradition of Kerala, performed in dedicated performance spaces called Koothambalams.

Nawrouz is the New Year festival celebrated by various communities in many countries, marking the beginning of spring.

The Pung (a barrel drum) and kartals (cymbals) are central to the Sankirtana performance of Manipur.

The Thatheras of Jandiala Guru are a community in Punjab known for their traditional technique of crafting brass and copper utensils.

Durga Puja is recognized for its artistic, cultural, and religious significance, highlighting the skill of idol makers and communal participation.