**Summary:**
The Ministry of Culture is spearheading a multinational nomination of Chhath Mahaparva for inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2003 Convention) for the 2026-27 cycle. On September 16, 2025, the Ministry convened consultations at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi with senior diplomatic representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Suriname, and the Netherlands to solicit their cooperation. The meeting, chaired by Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, included officials from the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of External Affairs, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and IGNCA. The diplomatic representatives expressed support, recognizing the festival's importance within the Indian Diaspora in their respective countries.
Secretary Culture also held a virtual interaction with Indian Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, UAE, and the Netherlands, who pledged their full cooperation in identifying communities and facilitating data collection for the nomination process.
Chhath Mahaparva, dedicated to the Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya, is a significant Indian festival celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and across Diaspora communities. The festival is known for its ecological and egalitarian ethos, promoting reverence for nature, sustainability, inclusivity, and community spirit.
The multinational nomination aims to showcase India's living cultural traditions and universal values, strengthen cultural pride among diaspora communities, promote shared heritage and international cultural cooperation, enhance India's soft power, and ensure the systematic documentation, transmission, and preservation of the festival. India currently has 15 elements inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List.
Contact: Sunil Kumar Tiwari, pibcultureatgmaildotcom. Release ID: 2167207.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Chhath Mahaparva: An ancient Indian festival dedicated to the Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya.
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi: An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, dedicated to the arts.
United Arab Emirates: A country in the Middle East.
Suriname: A country on the northeastern coast of South America.
Netherlands: A country in Europe.
Bihar: A state in eastern India, where Chhath Mahaparva is widely celebrated.
Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Culture convenes consultations on
multinational nomination of Chhath Mahaparva to
UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Posted On: 16 SEP 2025 4:53PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Culture organized a meeting at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New
Delhi, with senior diplomatic representatives of the United Arab Emirates, Suriname, and the Netherlands to
seek their cooperation for the multinational nomination of Chhath Mahaparva for inscription on UNESCO’s
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under the 2003 Convention. The meeting
was chaired by Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, and attended by officials from the
Ministry of Culture, Ministry of External Affairs, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and IGNCA.
The representatives welcomed the initiative, acknowledging the festival’s importance among the Indian
Diaspora in their countries and assured support for the nomination. Later in the evening, Secretary (Culture)
also held a virtual interaction with Indian Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname,
UAE, and the Netherlands, who expressed full cooperation in identifying communities and facilitating data
for the nomination process.Chhath Mahaparva, dedicated to the Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya, is one of India’s oldest festivals,
celebrated widely in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and across Diaspora communities in
Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, UAE, and the Netherlands. Known for its ecological and egalitarian ethos, the
festival promotes reverence for nature, sustainability, inclusivity, and community spirit. Participation
transcends caste, creed, and religion, with rituals emphasizing simplicity, devotion, and self-discipline.
The proposed multinational nomination of Chhath Mahaparva holds immense significance for India. Its
recognition by UNESCO would showcase India’s living cultural traditions and universal values on the global
stage while strengthening cultural pride among diaspora communities worldwide. It reflects India’s leadership
in promoting shared heritage and international cultural cooperation under the UNESCO framework. It will
also enhance India’s soft power by deepening goodwill with partner nations and reaffirming India’s role as a
custodian of living traditions. Most importantly, such recognition will ensure systematic documentation,
transmission, and preservation of this age-old festival, safeguarding its practices for future generations.With 15 elements already inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List, India is among the leading countries
in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The multinational nomination of Chhath Mahaparva for the
2026–27 cycle is another milestone in India’s cultural diplomacy and commitment to safeguarding living
traditions.
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Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2167207)