New Delhi: India’s iconic festival of lights, Diwali, has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking a major recognition of the festival’s cultural and spiritual significance. The announcement came during a UNESCO meeting held in New Delhi from Tuesday to Thursday, which reviewed nominations from 78 countries.

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi hailed the recognition as a “joyous moment” for the country, describing Diwali as “very closely linked to our culture and ethos” and “the soul of our civilisation.” In a statement on social media, Modi said, “It personifies illumination and righteousness. The addition of Deepavali to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List will contribute to the festival’s global popularity eve

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