Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. , Picture Credit score: Sansad TV
The inaugural ceremony of the upcoming key assembly of UNESCO on safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage will happen on the Pink Fort right here on December 7 and Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will attend the occasion as a chief visitor, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat mentioned on Friday (December 6, 2025).
He was interacting with reporters forward of the twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) will happen from December 8 to 13 on the Pink Fort.
That is the primary time that India will host a session of the UNESCO panel.
“The inaugural ceremony of the UNESCO meet might be held on December 7 night. Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will attend the ceremony,” Union Tradition Minister Shekhawat mentioned at a press convention held on the Pink Fort premises right here.
Moreover Union ministers Shekhawat and Jaishankar, Director-Basic of UNESCO, Khaled El-Enany; Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Ambassador and Everlasting Delegate of India to the UNESCO Vishal V Sharma are anticipated to attend the opening ceremony on the Pink Fort premises, it’s discovered.
Union Tradition Secretary Vivek Aggarwal later informed PTI that India’s nomination, the “Deepavali” competition, might be examined throughout the UNESCO meet, “on December 10, in pursuit of its inscription on the Consultant Listing of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.
“And we anticipate a constructive end result,” he mentioned.
The file for the nomination was submitted in 2023. India has despatched the nomination for the 2024-25 cycle.
India at the moment has 15 parts inscribed on the coveted UNESCO’s Consultant Listing of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and these embody the Kumbh Mela, the Durga Puja in Kolkata, the Garba dance of Gujarat, yoga, the custom of Vedic chanting and Ramlila — the standard efficiency of the epic Ramayana.
Mr. Aggarwal mentioned “over 1,000 delegates from 190 nations” are anticipated to attend this occasion.
The wealthy artwork and cultural heritage of India might be showcased by way of website museum galleries, artefacts, state emporia and efficiency arts, he mentioned.
“We’re additionally contemplating if the galleries and performances can stay open for view for one more one month for normal guests after the closure of the session on December 13,” Mr. Aggarwal mentioned.
In accordance with UNESCO, the session will study the nominations submitted by state events for inscription on the UNESCO ICH lists, evaluation the standing of the present parts and supply worldwide help for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
The session might be chaired by Ambassador and Everlasting Delegate of India to UNESCO Vishal V Sharma.
A senior official of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had, on November 28, mentioned the Seventeenth-century fort advanced might be closed from December 5 to 14 in view of the occasion.
Constructed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan because the palace fort of his capital Shahjahanabad, the Pink Fort advanced is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site and a centrally protected monument.
A few of the British-era barracks situated on the premises of the long-lasting monument can even be used as a part of the mega occasion, one other official mentioned.
Revealed – December 06, 2025 11:12 am IST