New Delhi, Dec 10, 2025: UNESCO on Wednesday added Diwali to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List, congratulating India as the festival joined cultural traditions from Ghana, Georgia, Congo, Ethiopia and Egypt.
The announcement came while Delhi is hosting the 20th meeting of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Intangible Heritage, which runs from December 8 to 13. To mark the occasion, the central government will celebrate a special Diwali on December 10 to showcase India’s cultural identity on a global stage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the development, calling Diwali “the soul of our civilization.” “People of India and the world are happy,” he wrote. “Diwali is connected to culture and nature. It is a symbol of knowledge and religion. Its inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List will further enhance the festival’s global popularity. May the ideals of Lord Shri Ram guide us forever.”
The UNESCO list features traditions that cannot be physically touched but are experienced through practice, memory and transmission. India already has 15 entries on the list, including Durga Puja, the Kumbh Mela, Vedic chanting, Ramlila and Chhau dance.
