UNESCO adds 43 new inscriptions to intangible cultural heritage list, 21 are Asian
UNESCO added 43 new inscriptions to its intangible cultural heritage list in mid-December during the sixteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage that was held hybrid both online and offline in Paris.
The list consists of three categories, namely the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (39 new elements added), the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding (4 new elements added) and the Register of Good Safeguarding Practises (4 new elements added). Interestingly, 21 of the newly-added inscriptions come from Asia.
18 new elements added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage are Asian. This list includes:
Traditional music from the Syrian Arab Republic known as Al-Qudoud al-Halabiya
Artistic practice of Arabic calligraphy including its knowledge, skills and practises. It is considered as a culture from Middle East countries namely Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen
Art of Xòe dance of the Tai people in Viet Nam
Bakhshi art, epic play performances from Uzbekistan
An annual festival known as Durga Puja. It marks the ten-day worship of the Hindu mother-goddess Durga. It is celebrated most notably in Kolkata, around September or October
Dutar, a traditional instrument and musical genre from Turkmenistan
Falak, the traditional folklore music of the mountain people of Tajikistan
Falconry, the traditional art and practice of training and flying falcons. It has been practised for over 4,000 years since the early and medieval periods of history. It is considered as both Asian and European culture.
United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain and Syrian Arab Republic are listed as the countries where falconry is practised.
Fjiri, a musical performance that commemorates the history of pearl diving in Bahrain
Gamelan, a traditional percussion orchestra from Indonesia
Hüsn-i Hat, a traditional calligraphy of letter-writing practice in Islamic art from Turkey
A lively and acrobatic form of dance theatre and improvisational singing from southern Thailand known as Nora
Songket, a traditional handwoven fabric created by women in Malaysia
The art of embroidery in Palestine, practises, skills, knowledge and rituals
Traditional craft skills and arts of Al-Naoor which is a wooden wheel made of twenty-four columns and with clay jugs attached to its outer circumference. It is used on the streams of the Euphrates River in Iraq and is considered as a source of livelihood for many, including local artisans. Al-Naoor knowledge and skills are transmitted through family, literature and formal education.
Traditional craftsmanship of making Dumbara Ratā Kalāla, which is the traditional hand-made mats used as wall hangings, tapestries or cushion covers from Sri Lanka.
In the category of Register of Good Safeguarding Practises, three out of four newly-added cultural elements are Asian. They are:
National programme to safeguard the traditional art of calligraphy in Islamic Republic of Iran
Nomad games, rediscovering heritage, celebrating diversity from Kyrgyzstan
The School of Living Traditions (SLT) from the Philippines
Lastly, the handwoven traditional textile in Timor-Leste known as Tais are listed under the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.