Date: 2025-12-08Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Hosting 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Red Fort reflects India’s unique blend of tangible and intangible cultural heritage: Secretary, Ministry of Culture
**Executive Summary**
The 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage commenced at Red Fort, New Delhi. The session, hosted by the Government of India, is running from December 8th to 13th, 2025. It brings together delegates, experts, and observers to discuss safeguarding intangible heritage.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Session Overview:**
* UNESCO's 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage is taking place at Red Fort, New Delhi.
* The session runs from December 8th to 13th, 2025.
* Approximately a thousand delegates from Member States, cultural institutions, experts, NGOs, and observers are attending.
* **India's Role and Perspective:**
* India is hosting the session, reflecting its unique blend of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
* India emphasizes a community-centered approach to safeguarding traditions.
* India highlights the expansion of the National Inventory, capacity-building initiatives, and efforts to integrate living heritage into national development programs.
* India has 15 elements on UNESCO's Representative List, which represent a kaleidoscope of India's cultural identity.
* India's ongoing term (2022-2026) on the Committee strengthens its engagement in global discussions on safeguarding living heritage.
* **Key Speakers:**
* Shri Vivek Aggarwal (Secretary, Ministry of Culture) chaired a press conference, underscoring India's commitment to safeguarding traditions.
* Shri Vishal V. Sharma (20 COM Chairperson and Ambassador Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO) welcomed participants and reaffirmed India's commitment.
* Mr. Ernesto Ottone (Assistant Director General for Culture of UNESCO) expressed gratitude to India for hosting the session.
* **Intangible Cultural Heritage Challenges:**
* Intangible heritage faces challenges from commercial pressures, shifting community dynamics, and evolving digital ecosystems.
* UNESCO's platform remains essential for cooperation, dialogue, and collective stewardship.
**Impact Analysis**
**Member States, cultural institutions, experts, NGOs and observers**
* **Impact:** Involved in discussions and decisions regarding the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.
* **Action Required:** Participate actively in the session, share expertise, and contribute to collective stewardship efforts.
**Government of India**
* **Impact:** Recognized for its efforts in safeguarding cultural heritages and hosting the session.
* **Action Required:** Continue to promote a community-centered approach, expand the National Inventory, and integrate living heritage into national development programs.
**UNESCO**
* **Impact:** Platform for cooperation and dialogue regarding safeguarding intangible heritage.
* **Action Required:** Maintain and strengthen its platform for international cooperation and stewardship of intangible cultural heritage.
Key Entities Referenced
Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage: The primary committee responsible for the 20th session being hosted.
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization involved in cultural heritage.
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry hosting the event and responsible for cultural heritage.
Red Fort, New Delhi: Location of the 20th session, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ministry of Culture
Hosting 20th Session of the Intergovernmental
Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural
Heritage at the Red Fort reflects India’s unique
blend of tangible and intangible cultural heritage:
Secretary, Ministry of Culture
Assistant Director General for Culture of UNESCO expresses
gratitude to Government of India for Hosting the 20th session
committee in New Delhi
प्रव तथ: 08 DEC 2025 5:52PM by PIB Delhi
UNESCO’s 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural
Heritage commenced with different sessions today at Red Fort, New Delhi. Shri Vivek Aggarwal,
Secretary Ministry of Culture chaired a press conference after the morning session. Shri Vishal V Sharma
20 COM Chairperson and Ambassador Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO and Mr Ernesto
ottone Assistant Direcor General for Culture of UNESCO attended the Press conference.
Addressing the Press conference, Shri Vivek Aggarwal said that hosting the session at the UNESCO
World Heritage Site of the Red Fort reflects India’s unique blend of tangible and intangible cultural
heritage. He emphasized India’s community centered approach to safeguarding traditions, highlighting the
ongoing expansion of the National Inventory, capacity-building initiatives for practitioners, and efforts to
integrate living heritage into national development programmes.
The Secretary also underscored India’s 15 elements on UNESCO’s Representative List, including Vedic
Chanting, Kutiyattam, Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja and Garba, describing them as a “kaleidoscope of
India’s cultural identity.” He also highlighted that Intangible Cultural Heritage represents the “livingheartbeat of humanity,” embodied in performing arts, craftsmanship, festivals, rituals and oral traditions
sustained by communities across generations.
The Secretary emphasized that the session comes at a crucial time, with intangible heritage across the
world facing challenges from commercial pressures, shifting community dynamics and evolving digital
ecosystems. UNESCO’s platform, remains essential for cooperation, dialogue and collective stewardship
he added.
Speaking at the same press conference Shri Vishal V. Sharma, welcomed all participants and reaffirmed
India’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding cultural heritages. He noted that India’s ongoing term
(2022–2026) on the Committee further strengthens its engagement in global discussions on safeguarding
living heritage.
Mr Ernesto Ottone, shared his happiness and gratitude to Government of India for Hosting this 20th
session committee in New Delhi and he applauded the efforts of Indian government in safeguarding
cultural heritages.
The week-long session will run from 8th to 13th December 2025, bringing together nearly a thousand
delegates from Member States, cultural institutions, experts, NGOs and observers.
***
M Annadurai
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2200489) आगंतुक पटल : 580
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही