New Delhi, Dec 10: Deepavali, the festival of light, was on Wednesday inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking a major cultural milestone for the country.

The announcement was made during a key session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), currently underway at Delhi’s Red Fort from December 8 to 13.

This is the first time India is hosting a session of the ICH committee.

As the inscription was announced, chants of “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” echoed across the venue.

Artistes in traditional attire performed before the main stage as images of Deepavali celebrations played on a large screen.

Members of the Indian contingent, including Union Culture Min

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