Deepavali, the festival of lights, has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The global recognition was announced during the ongoing session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently being hosted at Delhi’s historic Red Fort from December 8 to 13.

UNESCO made the declaration in a post on Wednesday, congratulating India on the new inscription. Deepavali now joins a diverse list of cultural traditions from countries including Ghana, Georgia, Congo, Ethiopia and Egypt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision on X, calling it a moment of pride for India and Indians worldwide. He said Deepavali is deeply connected to the nation’s cultural ethos, symbolising

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