The purpose of the Intangible Cultural Heritage list is to ensure that these cultural heritage elements are preserved and passed on to future generations. UNESCO adds Deepavali to its intangible cultural heritage list

New Delhi: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has added Diwali to the intangible cultural heritage list. On Wednesday, 10 December 2025, UNESCO released its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The list also includes cultural symbols from several countries, including Ghana, Georgia, Congo, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

Reacting to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Diwali is the soul of our civilization.” India already has 15 intangible cultural heritage sites on the list. These include Durga Puja, Kumbh Mela, Vedic ch

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