ByLokenath_Education_2020
DEC 24, 2021
This write-up is contributed by Mr. Sugato Roy
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list of India …
The past week the Kolkatans, in particular, were overjoyed, thrilled and delighted, the reason of which will make every Kolkatan swollen with pride. UNESCO has rightly earmarked the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata amongst the fourteen intangible cultural heritage lists of our country.
The Intangible Cultural Heritage lists are very special, and getting a place in that exclusive list and that too earmarked by UNESCO is unquestionably a reason for jubilation, accomplishment and triumph. As soon as the news was beamed on the audiovisual medium, social media was agog, with Bengalis and Kolkattans, in particular, posting their exuberance on Durga Puja. Kolkata has once again proved its cultural exquisiteness. West Bengal has the uniqueness of having two of its items on the list, the other one being the Chhau dance of Purulia.
Let us have a look at the Intangible Cultural Heritage lists of India as earmarked by UNESCO
- Durga Puja – The biggest festival of Bengali Hindus globally and particularly in Kolkata and Bengal, the Pujas are adored by members of other communities also. Kolkata is adorned in lights and colourful pandals are put up on these four days of the festival. Theme Pujas and the immersion carnival are other great attractions of the Pujas thronged by lakhs.
- Chhau – One of the oldest traditional classical dance forms from Natya Shastra, Chhau dance is practised and performed primarily in Purulia, West Bengal and Orissa. The dancers wear unique masks which can be found adorning the walls of many living rooms globally as a showpiece.
- Navroz – The term is a combination of two words Nav and Roz meaning new day. Parsis, the followers of the Zoroastrian religion who worship fire as their God, celebrate this day with pomp and luxury. Usually, the day falls around the Spring Equinox on 21st March every year.
- Koodiyattam – A 2000-year-old performing art, Koodiyattam is a combination of Sanskrit theatre with Koothu, a brilliant performing art from the Sangam era. A traditional dance form of Kerala, it is the oldest theatre globally that is still being performed.
- Vedic Chanting – The Vedas are one of the oldest texts and books on religion in the history of mankind. Rigveda is the original Veda out of the four main Vedas which contains 1000 hymns the collection of which is called Samhita. These are chanted in syllabic style.
- Ramlila – The traditional dance theatre form, Ramlila is performed all over our country especially in North India. The show stopper programme is based on Ramcharitmanas.
- Ramman – Originated fromChamoli in the Garhwali Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, Ramman is a festival to honour the traditional God Bhumiyal Devta in the two twin villages, Saloor and Doongra. 18 characters wearing 18 masks perform the traditional dance.
- Kalbelia dance – This dance form is a rich tradition from Rajasthan, the state which has the Thar desert. Both men and women folk of the snake charming tribe perform this dance. Being traditional snake handlers, they have evolved more creative forms of this dance form.
- Yoga – The traditional physical exercise system which first originated in India has taken the world by a tsunami. International celebrities from the arenas of sports and films, heads of state and countless people are now hooked on Yoga.
- Thatheras Copper and brass utensils – The Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab are superb experts in making brass and copper utensils and the procedures they adopt are unique
- Kumbh Mela – Every twelve years the biggest congregation of pilgrims takes place at Hardwar, Ujjain, Nasik and Prayagraj alternatively during this Hindu festival marking the revolution of Jupiter.
- Manipuri Sankirtan – Manipur is a state where Hindus form a majority and the dance involves drumming, dancing in the temples and open spaces in praise of God.
- Mudiyett – Traditionally from Kerala, this is a combination of theatre and dance from the Bhadrakali cult enacting the battle between Goddess Kali and demon Dwarika.
- Buddhist chanting Ladakh – Ladakh is an important seat of Buddhism where the Buddhist Association was established in 1933. The speciality of the chanting is that they are in an exceptionally beautiful musical verse.
Mr. Sugato Roy
GRADUATE FROM ST XAVIER’S COLLEGE AND POST GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA, SPECIALISING IN MARKETING MANAGEMENT AND ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF 24 YEARS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING INDUSTRY. HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY MANAGEMENT.