India will host the twentieth session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage from 8 to 13 December in New Delhi, marking the first time the country will convene the global gathering.
The meeting will take place at the Red Fort complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, underscoring the link between India’s tangible and intangible heritage. The session will be chaired by Vishal V Sharma, India’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, and coincides with the twentieth anniversary of India’s ratification of the 2003 Convention. The Convention, adopted in 2003, seeks to safeguard living cultural traditions, including oral practices, performing arts, rituals, craftsmanship and community knowledge systems. It places communities and individual practitioners at the centre of preservation efforts. Its aims include protecting intangible heritage, promoting respect for cultural practices and strengthening global cooperation.
Officials said the session will advance these goals by reviewing safeguarding measures, examining requests from member states, and guiding the use of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund. India has served on the Committee for three terms and currently has fifteen elements inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List. By hosting the meeting, India aims to present its model of safeguarding, which emphasises institutional support, documentation, community participation and national inventories. The Ministry of Culture and the Sangeet Natak Akademi are coordinating the event.
India also seeks to enhance the global visibility of its living traditions and highlight their role in livelihoods, education, cultural diplomacy and sustainable development. This year, the country has nominated Chhath Mahaparva and Diwali for inscription on the UNESCO list, furthering its commitment to preserving and promoting its diverse cultural practices.
