Deepavali Added to UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, India Celebrates

UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage adopted an inscription for Deepavali on December 10, 2025, at its twentieth session held in New Delhi from December 8 to 13. The element was added under the Social practices, rituals and festive events category, marking the sixteenth cultural element from India to appear on UNESCO’s lists and joining entries such as Yoga and Durga Puja.

The session in New Delhi, which several Indian outlets located at the Red Fort, considered a heavy slate of nominations. Times of India reported the committee reviewed 67 nominations from 79 countries, while the Press Information Bureau said delegates from 194 Member States, international experts and UNESCO network representatives attended. UNESCO’s public notice confirmed the inscription and named H.E. Mr Vishal V. Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO, as session chair.

The committee added Deepavali alongside other heritage elements on the 2025 list, with Indian Express noting the festival joined 19 other inscriptions and highlighting the inclusion of Tangail saree weaving among successful nominations. Hindustan Times reported new entries from countries across Africa, Europe and Asia, reflecting the committee’s wide geographic sweep this year.

Official reactions were immediate. UNESCO posted a celebratory message on social media saying New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage List: Deepavali, #India. Congratulations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the inscription on Twitter, saying People in India and around the world are thrilled. For us, Deepavali is very closely linked to our culture and ethos. It is the soul of our civilisation. It personifies illumination and righteousness. The addition of Deepavali to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List will contribute to the festival’s global popularity even further. May the ideals of Prabhu Shri Ram keep guiding us for eternity.

Beyond the ceremonial applause, the inscription has practical implications. UNESCO recognition often amplifies international awareness, attracting cultural tourists and encouraging investment in conservation of associated crafts and rituals. For Deepavali that could mean increased demand for artisans who make lamps, rangoli artists and makers of festival clothing and sweets, as well as a higher profile for community organizations that safeguard ritual knowledge.

The listing also places a spotlight on questions of preservation and authenticity. Intangible heritage status typically implies commitments to safeguarding measures and community participation, and those will be areas for journalists and policymakers to examine. India's nomination package and the full UNESCO inscription text will reveal what plans were proposed to sustain the living practices that animate Deepavali.

The timing of the session, hosted in India according to Indian reporting, adds a diplomatic dimension. Hosting the committee elevated India’s cultural diplomacy as it sought international validation for a festival long celebrated across the subcontinent and by the diaspora. The designation reinforces the festival’s transnational resonance, even as it invites scrutiny about commercialization and equitable support for the communities that carry the tradition.

Next reporting should follow the official UNESCO inscription text, statements from festival organizers and community bearers, and details of any national safeguarding plan submitted with the nomination. Those documents will determine how the symbolic honor translates into sustained protection, economic opportunity and broader cultural exchange.