Diwali added to UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage list

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The North News

New Delhi, December 10

Diwali, the festival of lights, has been formally added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, marking global recognition for one of India’s most widely celebrated traditions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the announcement, saying people in India and abroad were “thrilled” by the inscription. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said Deepavali is deeply rooted in India’s cultural identity and represents “illumination and righteousness.”

Modi added that the festival “personifies the soul of our civilisation” and the UNESCO listing would help expand its global reach. “May the ideals of Prabhu Shri Ram keep guiding us for eternity,” he wrote. UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage list recognises cultural practices and expressions that communities safeguard and pass down through generations. Diwali now joins a range of Indian traditions already recognised at the international level.