UNESCO Heritage status for Deepavali; moment of pride for India, says PM Modi

Deepavali, the festival of lights, has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The global recognition was announced during the ongoing session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently being hosted at Delhi’s historic Red Fort from December 8 to 13.

UNESCO made the declaration in a post on Wednesday, congratulating India on the new inscription. Deepavali now joins a diverse list of cultural traditions from countries including Ghana, Georgia, Congo, Ethiopia and Egypt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision on X, calling it a moment of pride for India and Indians worldwide. He said Deepavali is deeply connected to the nation’s cultural ethos, symbolising illumination, righteousness and the civilisational values of Prabhu Shri Ram. The recognition, he added, would further elevate the festival’s global popularity.

People in India and around the world are thrilled.

For us, Deepavali is very closely linked to our culture and ethos. It is the soul of our civilisation. It personifies illumination and righteousness. The addition of Deepavali to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List will… https://t.co/JxKEDsv8fT

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 10, 2025

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also hailed the development, saying Deepavali carries profound emotional significance for Indians and has been celebrated across generations. He stressed that the UNESCO tag brings with it a responsibility to preserve and protect the festival as a “living heritage.”

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Notably, the 2025 session on Intangible Cultural Heritage will be chaired by India’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Vishal V Sharma.