UNESCO Adds Gujrat’s 'Garba' Dance To Intangible Cultural Heritage List

The United Nations organisation UNESCO has included Gujarat's traditional 'Garba' dance in its cultural heritage list. Along with this, the 'Garba' dance is the 15th heritage of India to receive the status of cultural heritage of UNESCO.

18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO:

• On December 5, 2023, the 18th meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage began in Botswana, an African country.
• During this period, a declaration was made to include Garba dance in UNESCO's list for safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) under the 2003 Convention.

‘Garba’ dance:

• The Garba dance, popular throughout Gujarat and many other parts of the country during the nine-day Hindu festival, Navratri in India, was nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO list.
• Inclusion underscores Garba's pivotal role as a unifying force. Garba promotes social and gender inclusivity.
• It is a dance performed by women carrying around an earthen pot on their head called “Garba”, which is filled with water.
• These earthen pots are called Garba. Betel nuts and silver coins, etc., are kept inside the pot, which is called Kumbh (earthen pot). A coconut is placed on top of it.
• The dancing women move around in a circle with pots on their heads and a singer and a person playing the dholak or tabla to provide music.
• Traditionally, 'Garba' is believed to have originated from a lamp called Garbhdeep, which means a lamp placed inside a pot.
• UNESCO acknowledged that Garba as a dance form is deeply rooted in ritual and devotion and fosters social equality, transcending socio-economic, gender, and religious barriers. 

14 Intangible Cultural Heritage of India included by UNESCO:

• India has a total of 42 tangible heritage sites (34 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed) and 15 intangible cultural heritage sites recognised by UNESCO.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO):

• UNESCO is a specialised agency of the United Nations. UNESCO works together with countries around the world to make peace by helping with education, science, and culture.
• A United Nations conference was held in London in November 1945 to establish an educational and cultural organisation.
• At the end of this conference, UNESCO was established on November 16, 1945.
• The first session of the General Conference of UNESCO was held in Paris (Headquarters) during November–December in the year 1946.
• UNESCO officially recognises sites of cultural and natural importance as World Heritage.