Durga Puja added to UNESCO's ICH list; Netizens express pride as congratulations pour in

With UNESCO placing India’s acclaimed ‘festival of joy’ Durga Puja in its representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (ICH), congratulatory messages have poured in from all ends, and heart of every Indian has been filled with immense pride and joy.

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with or ministers have expressed immense joy at announcement. 

Celebrations resonate on Durga Puja being recognised by UNESCO

Sharing his exhilaration, PM Modi took to Twitter and wrote in Bengali language, "A matter of great pride and joy for every Indian! Durga Puja highlights best of our tritions and ethos. And, Kolkata’s Durga Puja is an experience everyone must-have."

While West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee termed Durga Puja to be more than a festival and said that it ‘unites everyone.’ In her tweet, she wrote, “Proud moment for Bengal! To every #Bengali across world, Durga Puja is much more than a festival, it is an emotion that unites everyone. And now, #DurgaPuja has been ded to Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. We are all beaming with joy!”

Expressing delight over jubilant news, Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on microblogging site," auspicious Durga Puja reflects India’s splendid cultural heritage and spirit of unity. It is great to learn that this iconic festival has been inscribed on UNESCO’s #IntangibleHeritage list. Every Indian is immensely proud.”

Or ministers, including Piyush Goyal, Hardeep Singh Puri, GK Reddy, Meenakshi Lekhi and BJP President JP Nda also shared ir happiness on Twitter.
 

Durga Puja- Representative of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

festival of Durga Puja has been ded to  UN body's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. decision comes during 16th session of Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is currently underway. 

Announcing decision, UNESCO on Wednesday, Dec 15 stated, "Durga Puja is an annual festival celebrated in September or October, most notably in Kolkata, in West Bengal of India, but also in or parts of India and amongst Bengali diaspora. It marks ten-day worship of Hindu mor-goddess Durga. In months preceding festival, small artisanal workshops sculpt images of Durga and her family using unfired clay pulled from Ganga River. worship of goddess n begins on inaugural day of Mahalaya, when eyes are painted onto clay images to bring goddess to life. It ends on tenth day when images are immersed in river from where clay came."

Image: ANI/ AP