UNESCO recognizes Garba as a cultural heritage of humanity.
UNESCO has declared Garba, the dance of Gujarat, as a “Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad” (ICHH), recognizing it as a “living expression” of heritage that promotes inclusion and honors the feminine energy of Shakti. The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Cultural Inmaterial Heritage of UNESCO took the decision on Wednesday at its meeting in Kasane, Botswana, to inscribe Garba on its list ICHH. “The intangible cultural heritage is an important factor to maintain cultural diversity in the face of increasing globalization” and its understanding on the part of different communities helps intercultural dialogue and mutual respect for other forms of life, said UNESCO. “For many decades, Garba has been an integral and multivalent component of the Gujarati culture in India and among the Indian diaspora all over the world”, he said. Garba is represented during the nine days of the festival of Navaratri which is dedicated to the cult of feminine energy or Shakti, said UNESCO. “Visual expressions of this feminine energy are expressed through the dance of Garba,” she added. “Apart from being a religious ritual, Garba promotes social equality by diluting socioeconomic, gender and sectarian structures. “Continuing to be inclusive and participatory of diverse and marginalized communities, strengthening community ties”, he said. In addition to the monuments and objects, the cultural heritage also includes “traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and transmitted to our descendants, such as the oral traditions, the scenic arts, the social practices, the rituals, the festive acts, the Knowledge and practices related to nature and the universe or knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts”, said UNESCO explaining to ICHH. “I hope that this inscription will help to guarantee the viability of this tradition and inspire the community, especially the youth, to continue with the knowledge, skills and oral traditions associated with Garba”, said Tim Curtis, director of the office. regional of UNESCO in New Delhi. Garba is one of the 12 in India on the ICHH list, as is Nowruz, which is shared with other countries. Those on the list from India include the tradition of Vedic singing, the dance Chhau, the dramatic dance Mudiyettu of Kerala, the performance of Ramlila, the Buddhist singing of Ladakh and Durga Puja. The committee recognized the rickshaws and the painting of rickshaws in Dhaka on Wednesday.UNESCO has declared Garba, the dance of Gujarat, as a “Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad” (ICHH), recognizing it as a “living expression” of heritage that promotes inclusion and honors the feminine energy of Shakti. The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Cultural Inmaterial Heritage of UNESCO took the decision on Wednesday at its meeting in Kasane, Botswana, to inscribe Garba on its list ICHH. “The intangible cultural heritage is an important factor to maintain cultural diversity in the face of increasing globalization” and its understanding on the part of different communities helps intercultural dialogue and mutual respect for other forms of life, said UNESCO. “For many decades, Garba has been an integral and multivalent component of the Gujarati culture in India and among the Indian diaspora all over the world”, he said. Garba is represented during the nine days of the festival of Navaratri which is dedicated to the cult of feminine energy or Shakti, said UNESCO. “Visual expressions of this feminine energy are expressed through the dance of Garba,” she added. “Apart from being a religious ritual, Garba promotes social equality by diluting socioeconomic, gender and sectarian structures. “Continuing to be inclusive and participatory of diverse and marginalized communities, strengthening community ties”, he said. In addition to the monuments and objects, the cultural heritage also includes “traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and transmitted to our descendants, such as the oral traditions, the scenic arts, the social practices, the rituals, the festive acts, the Knowledge and practices related to nature and the universe or knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts”, said UNESCO explaining to ICHH. “I hope that this inscription will help to guarantee the viability of this tradition and inspire the community, especially the youth, to continue with the knowledge, skills and oral traditions associated with Garba”, said Tim Curtis, director of the office. regional of UNESCO in New Delhi. Garba is one of the 12 in India on the ICHH list, as is Nowruz, which is shared with other countries. Those on the list from India include the tradition of Vedic singing, the dance Chhau, the dramatic dance Mudiyettu of Kerala, the performance of Ramlila, the Buddhist singing of Ladakh and Durga Puja. The committee recognized the rickshaws and the painting of rickshaws in Dhaka on Wednesday.
