Art & Culture

UNESCO
Module 9
 UNESCO’s list of
World Heritage Sites
in India
 World Heritage Convention, 1972

1.Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
2.By UNESCO
3.primary mission — to identify and protect the world’s natural and cultural heritage considered
to be of Outstanding Universal Value
4.governed by — World Heritage Committee supported by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre
(Established in 1992)
5.IUCN is the Advisory Body on natural heritage.
6.It recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to
preserve the balance between the two
Cultural criteria
1. “represents a masterpiece of human creative genius and cultural significance”
2. “exhibits an important interchange of human values, over a span of time, or
within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or
technology, monumental arts, town-planning, or landscape design”
3. “to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a
civilization which is living or which has disappeared”
4. “is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological
ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history”
5. “is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-
use which is representative of a culture, or human interaction with the
environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of
irreversible change”
6. “is directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or
with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance”
Natural criteria
7. “contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural
beauty and aesthetic importance”
8. “is an outstanding example representing major stages of Earth’s history,
including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the
development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic
features”
9. “is an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and
biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh
water, coastal and marine ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals”
10. “contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ
conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened
species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or
conservation”
There are 40 (32 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed) World Heritage Sites in India that
are recognised by the UNESCO as of April 2022.
1. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Protected habitat of elephants &
two thirds of the world's
remaining Great One-Horned
Rhinoceros.
2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Rajasthan

UNESCO-listed national park

& former Maharajah's
hunting ground known for its
abundant birdlife.
3. Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam

Vast wildlife sanctuary, home

to protected species such as
Bengal tigers, elephants &
rhinos.
4. Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers , Uttrakhand

Protected valley home of rare

snow leopards and bears, best
known for its abundance of
flowers.
5. Sunderban National Park, West Bengal
This vast mangrove forest &
Bengal tiger habitat has boat rides
& a watchtower for visitors.
6. Western Ghats

The Western Ghats extend from the

Satpura Range in the north, stretching
from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu.It traverses
south through the states of Maharashtra,
Goa, Karnataka and Kerala
7. Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh

Sprawling national park with

diverse plant & animal species in
a scenic, high-altitude setting.
 UNESCO’s list of
Intangible Cultural
Heritage
 UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage:
This coveted list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help
demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its
importance.
The list was established in 2003 when Convention for Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage came into effect.
It has two parts viz. Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity and List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of urgent
safeguarding.
2008
•Koodiyattam, Sanskrit theatre, which is practised in the province of
Kerala, is one of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions.
•neta abhinaya (eye expression) and hasta abhinaya (the language of
gestures) are prominent.
• The actor’s art lies in elaborating a situation or episode in all its detail.
Therefore, a single act may take days to perform and a complete
performance may last up to 40 days.
•Koodiyattam is traditionally performed in theatres called Kuttampalams
• an oil lamp on stage during the performance.
•Sanskrit theatre.

Tradition of Vedic chanting

•The value of this tradition lies not only in the rich content of its
oral literature but also in the ingenious techniques employed by
the Brahmin priests in preserving the texts intact over
thousands of years.
2008
Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana

•Ramlila, literally “Rama’s play”, is a performance of

then Ramayana epic in a series of scenes that include
song, narration, recital and dialogue.
•It is performed across northern India during the
festival of Dussehra, held each year according to the
ritual calendar in autumn.
•The most representative Ramlilas are those of
Ayodhya, Ramnagar and Benares, Vrindavan, Almora,
Sattna and Madhubani.
•This staging of the Ramayana is based on the
Ramacharitmanas, one of the most popular storytelling
forms in the north of the country.
•This sacred text devoted to the glory of Rama, the hero
of the Ramayana, was composed by Tulsidas
2009
Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India
•Every year in late April, the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra in the
state of Uttarakhand (northern India) are marked by Ramman,
•a religious festival in honour of the tutelary god, Bhumiyal Devta, a
local divinity whose temple houses most of the festivities.
•This event is made up of highly complex rituals: the recitation of a
version of the epic of Rama and various legends, and the
performance of songs and masked dances.
•The festival is organized by villagers, and each caste and occupational
group has a distinct role. For example, youth and the elders perform,
the Brahmans lead the prayers and perform the rituals, and the
Bhandaris – representing locals of the Kshatriya caste – are alone
entitled to wear one of the most sacred masks, that of the half-man,
half-lion Hindu deity, Narasimha. The family that hosts Bhumiyal
Devta during the year must adhere to a strict daily routine.
Combining theatre, music, historical reconstructions, and traditional
oral and written tales,
2010 Chhau dance
•Chhau dance is a tradition from eastern India that enacts episodes from
epics including the Mahabharata and Ramayana, local folklore and
abstract themes. Its three distinct styles hail from the regions of Seraikella,
Purulia and Mayurbhanj, the first two using masks.
•connected to regional festivals, notably the spring festival Chaitra Parva.
•Its origin is traceable to indigenous forms of dance and martial practices.
•Chhau is taught to male dancers from families of traditional artists or
from local communities. The dance is performed at night in an open space
to traditional and folk melodies, played on the reed
pipes mohuri and shehnai.
•Chhau is an integral part of the culture of these communities. It binds
together people from different social strata and ethnic background with
diverse social practices, beliefs, professions and languages. However,
increasing industrialization, economic pressures and new media are
leading to a decrease in collective participation with communities
becoming disconnected from their roots.
2010
Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
•Songs and dances are an expression of the Kalbelia community’s
traditional way of life.
•Once professional snake handlers, Kalbelia today evoke their former
occupation in music and dance that is evolving in new and creative
ways. Today, women in flowing black skirts dance and swirl, replicating
the movements of a serpent, while men accompany them on
the khanjaripercussion instrument and the poongi, a woodwind
instrument traditionally played to capture snakes.
•Transmitted from generation to generation, the songs and dances
form part of an oral tradition for which no texts or training manuals
exist.
• Song and dance are a matter of pride for the Kalbelia community,
and a marker of their identity at a time when their traditional
travelling lifestyle and role in rural society are diminishing.
• They demonstrate their community’s attempt to revitalize its cultural
heritage and adapt it to changing socioeconomic conditions.
2010 Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
•Mudiyettu is a ritual dance drama from Kerala based on the mythological
tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika.
• It is a community ritual in which the entire village participates.
•After the summer crops have been harvested, the villagers reach the
temple in the early morning on an appointed day.
•Mudiyettu performers purify themselves through fasting and prayer, then
draw a huge image of goddess Kali, called as kalam, on the temple floor
with coloured powders, wherein the spirit of the goddess is invoked
•Mudiyettu is performed annually in ‘Bhagavati Kavus’, the temples of the
goddess, in different villages along the rivers Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar and
Moovattupuzha.
•Mutual cooperation and collective participation of each caste in the ritual
instils and strengthens common identity and mutual bonding in the
community.
• Mudiyettu serves as an important cultural site for transmission of
traditional values, ethics, moral codes and aesthetic norms of the
community to the next generation, thereby ensuring its continuity and
relevance in present times.
2012
Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-
Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India

•In the monasteries and villages of the Ladakh region,

Buddhist lamas (priests) chant sacred texts representing
the spirit, philosophy and teachings of the Buddha.
•Two forms of Buddhism are practised in Ladakh –
Mahayana and Vajrayana – and there are four major
sects, namely Nyngma, Kagyud, Shakya and Geluk. Each
sect has several forms of chanting, practised during life-
cycle rituals and on important days in the Buddhist and
agrarian calendars.
• Chanting is undertaken for the spiritual and moral well-
being of the people, for purification and peace of mind,
to appease the wrath of evil spirits or to invoke the
blessing of various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, deities and
rinpoches.
2013
Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur
•Sankirtana encompasses an array of arts performed to mark
religious occasions and various stages in the life of the Vaishnava
people of the Manipur plains.
•Sankirtana practices centre on the temple, where performers
narrate the lives and deeds of Krishna through song and dance.
•Sankirtana has two main social functions: it brings people
together on festive occasions throughout the year, acting as a
cohesive force within Manipur’s Vaishnava community; and it
establishes and reinforces relationships between the individual and
the community through life-cycle ceremonies.
•vibrant practice promoting an organic relationship with people:
the whole society is involved in its safeguarding, with the specific
knowledge and skills traditionally transmitted from mentor to
disciple. Sankirtana works in harmony with the natural world,
whose presence is acknowledged through its many rituals.
2014
Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala
Guru, Punjab, India •The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru constitutes the
traditional technique of manufacturing brass and copper
utensils in Punjab.
• The metals used – copper, brass and certain alloys – are
believed to be beneficial for health.
•Designs are made by skilfully hammering a series of tiny dents
into the heated metal.
•Utensils may be manufactured for ritual or utilitarian
purposes, both for individual and community use on special
occasions such as weddings or at temples.
•The process of manufacturing is transmitted orally from father
to son.
•Metalwork is not simply a form of livelihood for Thatheras,
but it defines their family and kinship structure, work ethic and
status within the social hierarchy of the town.
2016 Nawrouz
•New Year is often a time when people wish for prosperity and
new beginnings.
•March 21 marks the start of the year in Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan. It is referred to as Nauryz, Navruz, Nawrouz,
Nevruz, Nooruz, Novruz, Nowrouz or Nowruz meaning ‘new
day’ when a variety of rituals, ceremonies and other cultural
events take place for a period of about two weeks
• New clothes are worn and visits made to relatives, particularly
the elderly and neighbours

• Gifts are exchanged, especially for children, featuring objects made by artisans. There are also
street performances of music and dance, public rituals involving water and fire, traditional sports
and the making of handicrafts. These practices support cultural diversity and tolerance and
contribute to building community solidarity and peace. They are transmitted from older to
younger generations through observation and participation.
2016 Yoga
•The philosophy behind the ancient Indian practice of yoga has
influenced various aspects of how society in India functions,
whether it be in relation to areas such as health and medicine
or education and the arts.
•Based on unifying the mind with the body and soul to allow
for greater mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing, the values
of yoga form a major part of the community’s ethos.
•Yoga consists of a series of poses, meditation, controlled
breathing, word chanting and other techniques designed to
help individuals build self-realization, ease any suffering they
may be experiencing and allow for a state of liberation.
•Traditionally, yoga was transmitted using the Guru-Shishya model (master-pupil) with yoga gurus
as the main custodians of associated knowledge and skills. Nowadays, yoga ashrams or
hermitages provide enthusiasts with additional opportunities to learn about the traditional
practice, as well as schools, universities, community centres and social media. Ancient
manuscripts and scriptures are also used in the teaching and practice of yoga, and a vast range of
modern literature on the subject available.
2017 Kumbh Mela
•Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest
peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants
bathe or take a dip in a sacred river.
•Devotees believe that by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from
sins liberating her/him from the cycle of birth and death. Millions of
people reach the place without any invitation.
•The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-
kalpavasis and visitors. The festival is held at Allahabad, Haridwar,
Ujjain and Nasik every four years by rotation and is attended by
millions of people irrespective of caste, creed or gender. Its primary
bearers, however, belong to akhadas and ashrams, religious
organizations, or are individuals living on alms.
•Kumbh Mela plays a central spiritual role in the country, exerting a
mesmeric influence on ordinary Indians. The event encapsulates the
science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and
social and cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in
knowledge.
2017 Kumbh Mela

•As it is held in four different cities in India, it involves different social

and cultural activities, making this a culturally diverse festival.
Knowledge and skills related to the tradition are transmitted through
ancient religious manuscripts, oral traditions, historical travelogues
and texts produced by eminent historians. However, the teacher-
student relationship of the sadhus in the ashrams and akhadas
remains the most important method of imparting and safeguarding
knowledge and skills relating to Kumbh Mela.
2021 Durga Pooja

As a ten-day celebration, Durga Puja represents the

collective worship of the Hindu Goddess Durga.
During this time, masterfully designed clay models
of the Goddess are worshipped in “pandals” or
pavilions where communities get together and
celebrate. Several folk music, culinary, craft, and
performing arts traditions add to the dynamism of
this celebration.
While Durga Puja is one of the most important
festivals of West Bengal, India, it is widely observed
across the country and in major cities of the world
by the Bengali diaspora. Over the years, the Indian
city of Kolkata has emerged as the geographical and
cultural heart of the national and global
celebrations of the festival.
2021 Durga Pooja