New Delhi: Diwali, the festival celebrated with traditional diyas, colours and community gatherings across India and among global Indian communities, has officially been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement came on Wednesday while New Delhi is hosting the ongoing meeting of UNESCO’s intergovernmental committee at the Red Fort. On its website, UNESCO describes Diwali or Deepavali as a festival that brings together diverse communities across India to mark the final harvest of the year and the start of a new season.

Observed on the new moon between October and November, the celebration spans many days, reflecting the belief in light triumphing over darkness and good prevailing over evil. The organisation notes that people de

See Full Page