The traditional dance form of Gujarat, Garba, earned a spot on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List on December 6, 2023. This inclusion aligns with the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, marking Garba as the 15th cultural element from India to receive this prestigious recognition. West Bengal’s Durga Puja was previously added to the list in 2021.
UNESCO, in its statement, announced, “Today, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed ‘Garba of Gujarat’ on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 18th session, taking place in Kasane, Botswana from 5 to 9 December 2023.”
Beyond dance: Decoding the cultural significance of Garba
🔴 BREAKING
New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage List: Garba of Gujarat, #India 🇮🇳.
Congratulations!https://t.co/c2HMPpStCA #LivingHeritage pic.twitter.com/YcupgYLFjg
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) December 6, 2023
UNESCO described Garba, the folk dance of Gujarat, as a devotional and ritualistic art performed throughout the state and the rest of India. The dance is a prominent feature during Navratri, an annual nine-day festival dedicated to the Goddess Mother and the primordial feminine energy.
Garba dancers, dressed in vibrant traditional attire, begin the dance slowly, moving in a circle around an image or sculpture of the goddess, singing and clapping their hands. The dance gradually increases in tempo, with participants moving and clapping faster towards the end. Despite being rooted in Gujarati heritage, Garba attracts enthusiastic participants almost all over the country.
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The official statement issued by UNESCO added, ‘“Garba of Gujarat is the 15th ICH element from India to join this list. This inscription underscores Garba’s pivotal role as a unifying force that fosters social and gender inclusivity. Garba, as a dance form, is entrenched deeply in ritualistic and devotional roots, involving people from all walks of life and it continues to thrive as a vibrant living tradition, bringing communities together.”
(Feature image credit: Restless mind/Flickr )
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