Is India Ready to Nominate Chhath Mahaparva for UNESCO Recognition?

New Delhi, Sep 16 (NationPress) In a bid to secure UNESCO recognition for Chhath Mahaparva, the Ministry of Culture engaged in discussions with diplomatic representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Suriname, and the Netherlands on Tuesday, as confirmed by an official.

Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal sought collaborative support from these representatives for a multinational nomination of Chhath Mahaparva to be inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under the 2003 Convention. This initiative is expected to enhance India's soft power.

The meeting also included officials from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of External Affairs, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

The diplomatic representatives expressed their approval of the initiative, recognizing the festival's significance to the Indian community in their respective nations and pledged their support for the nomination.

Additionally, Secretary Aggarwal conducted a virtual meeting with Indian Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, the UAE, and the Netherlands, who promised to assist in identifying communities and gathering data for the nomination process.

Chhath Mahaparva, which honors the Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya, is one of India's ancient festivals, celebrated prominently in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and by diaspora communities in Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, the UAE, and the Netherlands.

This festival is renowned for its ecological and egalitarian principles, promoting respect for nature, sustainability, inclusiveness, and community spirit. It transcends caste, creed, and religion, with rituals underscoring simplicity, devotion, and self-discipline.

The proposed multinational nomination of Chhath Mahaparva is of great importance for India, as its acknowledgment by UNESCO would highlight India's vibrant cultural practices and universal values on an international scale, while boosting cultural pride within diaspora communities globally.

This initiative exemplifies India's leadership in fostering shared heritage and international cultural collaboration within the UNESCO framework. It is set to augment India’s soft power by nurturing goodwill with partner nations and reaffirming India’s role as a guardian of living traditions, according to an official statement.

Crucially, such recognition will facilitate the organized documentation, transmission, and preservation of this age-old festival, ensuring its practices are safeguarded for future generations.

With 15 elements already registered on UNESCO’s Representative List, India stands among the forefront nations in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. The multinational nomination of Chhath Mahaparva for the 2026-27 cycle marks yet another significant achievement in India's cultural diplomacy and its commitment to protecting living traditions, as stated in the announcement.