Context

• UNESCO has included 'Garba of Gujarat' in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (ICH) under the provisions of the 2003 Convention during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• This meeting was held in Kasane, Botswana.

Key Points

• Garba dance of Gujarat is the 15th Indian Heritage (ICH) to be included in this list.
• Earlier in the year 2021, Durga Puja of Kolkata was included in this list.

 Effect

• This achievement underlines the important role of Garba as a unifying force promoting social and gender inclusivity.
• People from all walks of life participate in this dance. As a result, it can be said that Garba is developing as a living tradition that brings communities together.

 Garba

• Garba dance is a symbol of devotion to the Mother Goddess during the auspicious Navratri festival.
• It can be described as a “ritualistic and devotional dance” dedicated to the worship of the feminine energy or ‘Shakti’.
• The dance takes place around a perforated earthen pot which is illuminated by an oil lamp or the image of Mother Goddess Amba.
• Dancers dressed in colourful costumes move around in a circle dancing anti-clockwise.

Various forms of art included in UNESCO's intangible heritage list

• Tradition of Vedic Chanting -2008
• Ramlila-2008
• Koodiyattam-2008
• Ramman-2009
• chhau dance-2010
• Kalbeliya-2010
• Mudiyettu-2010
• Buddhist Chant-2012
• Sankirtan-2013
• Traditional brass and copper crafts of making utensils among the thatheras of Jandiala Guru -2014
• Yoga - 2016
• Nowroz-2016
• Kumbh Mela-2017
• Kolkata Durga Puja-2021
• Gujarat's Garba-2023

 IMPORTANT FACTS FOR EXAMS 

UNESCO

• Full form: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Type: A body of the UN
• Function: To promote international peace through education, nature and social science, culture and communication.
• Established: On 16 November 1945.
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Founders: India, United States, France, China, Brazil, Mexico .