Cultural heritage is not limited to monuments and historical structures but includes traditions, values, or expressions inherited from ancestors and passed on to successive generations. It is an intangible cultural heritage formed by a wealth of knowledge, skills, and legacy transmitted from one generation to the other. The social and economic value of this transmission of knowledge is relevant among different communities, helps intercultural exchanges, and encourages mutual respect for different ways of life. Intangible cultural heritage is the preservation and transmission of practices, expressions, knowledge, and skills that communities, and individuals, recognize and manifest as part of their cultural heritage.
Significance of Intangible Cultural Heritage:
Different communities and social groups across the world carry the wealth of ideas, knowledge, practices, and values that shape their breathing patterns and modes of heritage. The significant features of intangible cultural heritage that are important indicators of cultural diversity and living expressions are as follows:
-
Traditional and Contemporary:
Intangible cultural heritage represents the traditions inherited from ancestors and includes contemporary practices in which diverse cultural groups are involved.
-
Inclusive and Connected:
People may share expressions of intangible cultural heritage to be practiced by others in neighboring areas or other parts of the world. It can be accepted and adapted by people who have migrated and settled in a different region.
-
Representative:
Intangible cultural heritage represents a country, a region, or a community and identifies its exclusive or exceptional nature. It has the structure of knowledge, traditions, skills, and customs built based on beliefs and values and is passed on to the rest of the community from generation to generation.
-
Community-Based:
The intangible cultural heritage has to be recognized and practiced by specific cultural communities for creation, preservation, and transmission to the next generations. Every community should be proud to take the responsibility of maintaining the cultural heritage and passing it on to the next generations.
-
The Categories of Intangible Cultural Heritage
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aims to protect important intangible cultural heritage worldwide. As per UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, five domains express intangible cultural heritage. These are as follows:
- Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle
- Performing Arts
- Social practices, rituals, and festive events
- Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- Traditional Craftsmanship
Recognizing and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage involves identifying communities with traditional excellence in performing arts, craftsmanship, and social practices and encouraging them to practice and transmit their knowledge, know-how, and skills to the younger generations.
National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage:
India has diverse and rich cultural traditions shared through generations from ancient times. The intangible cultural heritage of India comprises traditional expressions, practices, craftsmanship, rituals, and events. India’s natural, cultural, and linguistic varieties and living patterns are the basis of various cultural heritages in the framework of diversity and cultural exchanges.
- The National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is prepared to recognize and portray the diversity of Indian culture through its intangible heritage. The objective is to raise awareness about the various intangible cultural heritage belonging to different parts of India and ensure their protection. The list includes the 14 elements of India that have already received recognition from UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- The present items in the list include intangible cultural heritage elements sanctioned under the scheme for ‘Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India’ formulated by the Ministry of Culture.
- This scheme was introduced in 2013 and aimed at highlighting the diverse cultural expressions of India that are necessary for preservation and adaptation by respective communities as an interpretation of intangible cultural heritage in India. Some examples of intangible cultural heritage in India are Kalamkari (traditional art), Durga Puja (Social practices, rituals, and festive events), and Chhau Dance (performing art).
- Kolkata Durga Puja Gets UNESCO Heritage Tag: UNESCO has acknowledged the Durga Puja Festival of Kolkata by inscribing it in the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 2021. Durga Puja is celebrated in different parts of the state with much fun and frolic. This festival represents social practices, rituals, and events in an amazing way. It involves people across cultures, religions, and communities. The beautifully crafted idols of goddesses adorned with meticulous artwork and stylish themes demonstrate the craftsmanship skills which are traditionally maintained through generations.
Kolkata Durga Puja Gets UNESCO Heritage Tag on December 2021
Government Initiatives For the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage:
- The government of India felt the need for concerted efforts to enhance awareness and interest in intangible cultural heritage to promote and safeguard it effectively. The government has taken several initiatives to take care of the intangible cultural heritage expressed through arts, crafts, events, rituals, and practices. The Ministry of Culture aims to promote, preserve, and evolve different forms of art and culture practiced across India. The Ministry has formulated a scheme titled “Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India”, which aims at protecting and promoting various intangible cultural heritages owned and practiced by institutions, groups, or individuals.
- There is a need for institutional support and action plans to address issues concerning the survival and propagation of intangible cultural heritage. The government has made serious efforts through its agencies and NGOs to support the sustenance, protection, development and evolution of cultural heritage. The scheme also involves researchers and scholars so that they can contribute their experience and guidance in implementing initiatives for preserving, protecting, and promoting the rich intangible cultural heritage of India.
Essential Data Regarding Intangible Cultural Heritage:
- The UNESCO General Conference adopted the first specific international legal instrument on intangible cultural heritage in November 1989.
- Since 2003, 178 nations have adopted the UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. India has entered the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for 2022-2026.
- India now has 14 items on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity sanctioned by UNESCO.
Global Awareness About Intangible Cultural Heritage:
UNESCO has been leading the movement to identify, record, and preserve intangible cultural heritage through ongoing programs conducted internationally. UNESCO aims to ensure better protection of important intangible cultural heritage worldwide and create awareness of their significance. The world’s leading countries join hands to protect the intangible cultural heritage that encompasses skills, knowledge, expressions, and cultural activities. The international platform has agreed on the need for a standardized scheme and administrative support to preserve intangible cultural heritage. The action plan involves making the concerned parties responsible and accountable for the measures taken so far and defining the goals for protecting intangible cultural heritage.
Conclusion:
A significant part of the cultural legacy of any country or community comes through an incredibly dynamic and rich intangible heritage. It is the responsibility of everyone to maintain and enrich the cultural heritage. The intangible cultural heritage must remain relevant to culture and be regularly practiced and learned within communities to keep it alive for generations.