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UNESCO'S LIST OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

UNESCO'S LIST OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Cultural heritage is one prestigious factor of a country that makes it rich in terms of history and content. Cultural heritage is often widely understood as the collection of historic objects or monuments only. But another fact about cultural heritage is that it exhibits the wealth of traditions and expressions inherited from ancestors and passed on to our descendants like –

  • Oral traditions
  • Performing arts
  • Social Practices
  • Festive events
  • Nature knowledge and practices
  • Traditional crafts

UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Heritage.

  • In order to provide better preservation and protection of cultural heritage of the world.
  • Aim - The main aim of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage was to ensure the better protection of important intangible cultural heritage worldwide.
  • To create awareness of their significance.
  • To draw attention to the importance of preservation of such heritage is in order for them to live a longer life.

What is the meaning of intangible cultural heritage?

Intangible cultural heritage means the practice, representation, expression, knowledge and skills of objects and artefacts that are associated with communities, groups or some historical cases,

They are recognized as a part of cultural heritage of a country.

There are two lists compiled by the UNESCO -

  1. The Representative List Of The Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Humanity - It consists of cultural practises and expressions in order to exhibit the diverse culture and heritage of a country. It also helps in raising awareness about the importance of such cultural heritage sites.
  2. The List Of Intangible Cultural Heritage In Need Of Urgent Safeguarding- It consists of cultural elements that concern communities and countries that are vulnerable and who require some very urgent measures to keep them alive.

REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

There are 14 items in the list of representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity of India.

  1. Koodiyattam (Sanskrit theatre)  included in 2008
  • It is a dance drama originated from Kerala.
  • It is a combined dance form that is conducted by Chhaya a sub cast of Hindus who play the male role in such dramas.
  • The female roles are played by the woman of Ambala Vasi Nambiar cast. Next time. The time span of the performance is 6 to 20 days.
  • The theme is heavily based on Hindu mythology and it is mandatory to be enacted inside the temples.
  • Vidushaka -  the background speaker who explains the story and gives a live image of characters in the minds of audiences in simple Malayalam next time , the language for all other characters is Sanskrit.
  • The main musical instrument instrument that is used in Koodiyattam is Mizhavu

 

  1. Ram Leela included in 2008.
  • It is a popular folk theatre in Uttar Pradesh, which is an enactment of Ramayana by the means of dance and dialogues.
  • It is mainly performed before Dussehra every year. It is played on Sharad Navratras for a period of 10 nights.
  1. The Tradition in Vedic chanting included in 2008.
  • It is the oral tradition of Vedas, including several part called recitations.
  • They are the oldest unbroken oral tradition in existence.
  • UNESCO marks this tradition as a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity.
  1. Raman included in 2009
  • It is a ritual theatre and a festival of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand in India.
  • The villagers pay their offerings to the village diety Bhumiya Devta in the village temple.
  • This festival is welcomed with the singing of Jagar, a musical rendition of local legends.
  1. Mudiyettu included in 2010.
  • It is a ritual theatre of folk dance and a drama is formed in the state of Kerala.
  • Depicts the methodological tale of battle between Goddess Kali and Demon Darika.
  • The dance is performed in village Temple.
  1. Kalbeliya included in 2010.
  • It is performed by a tribe of Rajasthan named Kalbelia.
  • The songs are mythological and the musical instruments that are played include Pungi chang and cymbals.
  1. Chhau dance included in 2010.
  • It is a tribal martial art dance performed in Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
  • The whole community participate in this dance performance, which is performed by male dancers at night in an open space.
  • The theme of Chhau dance is based on Hindu mythology.
  • Masks are won by dancers during the performance, except the Mayurbhanj Chhau
  1. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh included in 2012.
  • It is the recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trance Himalyan Ladakh region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • They relate the two sects of Buddhism Mahayana and Vajrayana
  1. Sankeerthana included in 2013.
  • It is a ritual, singing, drawing and dancing art form of Manipur originated from 15th century.
  • It is performed to mark the religious occasions in the life of Manipuri  Vaishnavites
  • It is practised in temples by narrating the life and deeds of Lord Krishna through songs and dance.