The Garba dance form from Gujarat, mostly performed in the community, has reached a milestone in its life. It has been included in UNESCO’s Representative List of Humanities of Humanity. The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, announced on Wednesday. The recognition was granted based on the provisions laid down in the 2003 Convention on the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage at the 18th session of the Inter-Governmental Committee for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage held in Kasane in Botswana.
Garba dance is the 15th Indian ICH element to be added to this list, indicating the cultural importance of the dance form. Garba, which is based on ritual and devotional practices, plays an important role in social and gender mainstreaming. An official release highlighted the dance form’s long-lasting vitality, which brings different communities together to celebrate cultural diversity.
The Union Culture Minister, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Union Minister for Culture, Union Minister for Tourism, Union Minister for Home Affairs, and Union Minister for Tourism took to Twitter to express the pride of the nation. Reddy said that Garba is a symbol of celebration, commitment, gender equality, and social justice, which goes beyond the country’s borders. The inclusion of the Garba dance in the prestigious list of UNESCO is a sign of the commitment of the government, led by Prime Minister Modi, to share India’s rich heritage with the world.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, through its Intergovernmental Committee, recognised the Garba of Gujarat at its 18th Session in Botswana in 2003. The UNESCO New Delhi Cluster office also expressed its excitement saying, “We are delighted to announce that the #GarbaofGujarat is now India’s fifteenth inscription on the list of the representative list of intangible cultural heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.”
Garba is a ritual that is performed during the festival of Navratri to honour the goddess Shakti, who is believed to be the embodiment of feminine energy. Other notable Indian entries on the prestigious list are Durga Puja in Kolkata in 2021, Kumbh Mela in 2017, and Yoga in 2016.