UNESCO declares Garba as ‘intangible’ cultural heritage
UNESCO declares Garba as 'intangible' cultural heritage (representational Image )
By: Pune Pulse
December 8, 2023
Pune: The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has recently announced that Garba, the renowned traditional dance form of Gujarat, has been recognised as an intangible heritage.
UNESCO shared this news on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, ‘Garba of Gujarat, India, has been added to the Intangible Heritage List. Congratulations!’ This significant decision was made during the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently taking place at the Cresta Mowana Resort in Kasane, Botswana.
Garba is a traditional and religious dance performed during the Hindu festival of Navaratri. It involves dancers moving in a circular motion around a pot or an image of the goddess Amba while singing and clapping their hands together. The dance starts off slowly and gradually increases in speed and intensity.
The Garba community consists of dancers, musicians, social groups, craftsmen, and religious figures who all play a role in the celebration and organization of the festival, as recognized by UNESCO.
The transmission of Garba occurs in both urban and rural areas through various means such as practice, performance, imitation, and observation. Additionally, Unesco has recognised other cultural practices like the rickshaws and rickshaw painting in Dhaka, Bangladesh; the Jamu wellness culture of Indonesia; and Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year festival, as new additions to its Intangible Heritage List, among numerous others.
As of January 2022, UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity features 14 elements from India. Among them are the ‘Thatheras’ of Jandiala Guru in Punjab, known for their traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making. Additionally, the list includes the ‘Nawrouz’ festival, the Kumbh Mela, the Durga Puja of Kolkata, as well as Ramlila and Vedic chants.
