This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Culture's response to a parliamentary question regarding the potential inclusion of the Lai Haraoba festival of Manipur in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Ministry, through the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, stated that while the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), the nodal agency for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), examines proposals for UNESCO nomination, India has already nominated the Deepavali Festival for the 2024-25 cycle. UNESCO allows each member state to nominate only one element every two years. Currently, no proposal for Lai Haraoba is under consideration for inclusion in the UNESCO list. However, the Ministry highlights that Lai Haraoba has been included as the 50th element in the National Inventory of ICH, a prerequisite for UNESCO consideration. Detailed documentation, including videos, photographs, and a description, has been submitted and is accessible on the official website: https://indiach.sna.in/nationalinventory. The Sangeet Natak Akademi is responsible for coordinating India's nominations to UNESCO ICH lists and maintaining the National Inventory of ICH.
Key Entities Referenced
Lai Haraoba: A traditional festival and ritual celebrated in Manipur, India, considered for inclusion in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: A list maintained by UNESCO to safeguard and recognize important intangible cultural heritage elements worldwide.
Ministry of Culture: The Government of India's ministry responsible for matters related to culture, including the nomination of cultural elements to UNESCO.
Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA): The nodal implementing agency for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in India, responsible for examining proposals and coordinating nominations to UNESCO.
Deepavali Festival: The element nominated by India for the 2024-25 cycle of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
New Delhi: The location where the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is scheduled to be held in December 2025.
National Inventory of ICH: A national inventory maintained by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) documenting India's Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Manipur: The Indian state where the Lai Haraoba festival is celebrated.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2375
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
INCLUSION OF LAI HARAOBA FESTIVAL IN UNESCO'S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL
HERITAGE LIST
2375. DR. ANGOMCHA BIMOL AKOIJAM:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to include Lai Haraoba, the traditional festival and
ritual celebrated in Manipur, India, in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the current status of the proposal; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
a) to (b) Ministry of Culture through Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), the nodal implementing agency
for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), examines the proposal(s) received from the community/
stakeholders for inclusion/ nomination to the UNESCO’S Representative List of ICH of Humanity.
For inclusion of an element in the UNESCO’s Representative List of ICH, the state parties are
required to submit nomination dossier on the relevant element for evaluation and examination by
UNESCO Committee. As per UNESCO’s latest Operational Directives, each member state is
permitted to nominate only one element every two years for possible inscription. In this context, India
has nominated the ‘Deepavali’ Festival for the 2024–25 cycle. The nomination will be considered
during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage, scheduled to be held in New Delhi in December 2025.
Presently, no such proposal is under consideration for inclusion to the UNESCO Representative List of
the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
c) The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has designated Sangeet Natak Akademi as the nodal
agency for coordinating India’s nominations to various UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
lists, as well as for undertaking related responsibilities such as the development and maintenance of
the National Inventory of ICH.
Inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity begins
with the element being inventorized in the National Inventory. For this purpose, detailed
documentation—including videos, photographs, and a brief description of the element—is submitted
for consideration.
This process has been completed for Lai Haraoba, which has been included as the 50th element in the
National Inventory. The details can be accessed on the official website:https://indiaich-
sna.in/national-inventory.
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