The nation's capital is set to host a spectacular, city-wide Deepavali celebration on December 10, following a directive from the Central government. The massive cultural effort is timed to coincide with the expected inscription of the festival of lights on the prestigious 2024-25 cycle of the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In a landmark move, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGC20COM), the UNESCO body responsible for heritage listings, is scheduled to hold its 20th session in New Delhi from December 7 to 13. Crucially, the global meeting, a first for the Capital, will be hosted at the historic Red Fort. The week-long session is expected to feature a gathering of over 1,000 delegates from more than 180 countries, including high-ranking UNESCO officials, experts, NGOs, and heritage practitioners, all of whom will be present when the decision on Deepavali's inscription is announced on December 10.
The initiative to mark the occasion with grandeur was formalized in a letter sent on December 1 by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The Minister, whose letter notes that India is currently serving its fourth term (2022-2026) on the heritage committee, specifically requested that the festival "be commemorated suitably on December 10."
The Centre has asked the Delhi government to organize coordinated festivities across all major monuments and prominent cultural sites to truly showcase the spirit and scale of the festival to the global delegation. The celebratory measures are to include the lighting of diyas and decorative illumination at historical sites, alongside a diverse array of cultural activities. Specifically, the request outlined the need for "traditional performances, rangoli displays or demonstrations of local Deepavali practices," aiming for a comprehensive display of the festival's rich tapestry.
Minister Shekhawat, in his correspondence, articulated the profound cultural significance underpinning the nomination. He wrote that Deepavali, with its practices such as lighting diyas and region-specific rituals, stands as a testament to "India’s diverse living heritage, craftsmanship, and knowledge systems." This sentiment underscores the value that the government places on the festival as a living tradition worthy of global recognition.
Deepavali is not the only element of India’s cultural wealth recently nominated; the ministry has also put forward "Chhath" for consideration. Should Deepavali be successfully inscribed on December 10, it will join a distinguished list of 15 current elements from India that are already on the Representative List. These existing entries include the Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja, Vedic chanting, Ramlila, and Chhau dance, cementing India's standing as a nation with an exceptional depth of recognized intangible heritage. The coordinated city-wide celebration will serve as both a hopeful prelude to the expected inscription and a vibrant demonstration of why Deepavali’s traditions merit a place on the world stage.
