Diwali Added To UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Deep breath, diyas lit, and songs sung: on December 10, 2025, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed Deepavali, widely known as Diwali, on UNESCO’s Representative List. The decision was announced during the Committee’s session being held in New Delhi, a symbolic moment for a festival that animates streets, homes and temples across India and its diaspora. India’s Ministry of Culture celebrated the inscription as a recognition of Deepavali’s centuries-old rites and its role in community identity and cultural continuity.