Context
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, announced efforts to include Chhath Puja, Bihar’s biggest festival, in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list. This aims to boost India’s global cultural recognition and strengthen Bihar’s cultural identity.
Key Highlights
- About Chhath Puja
- Dedicated to Surya (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (considered Sun’s sister).
- Celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and by the Indian diaspora worldwide.
- Observed six days after Diwali. Key rituals include:
- Arghya (offering water) to rising and setting sun.
- Strict fasting, riverbank prayers, and community gatherings.
- Known for ecological focus—clean rivers, ponds, and natural surroundings are central.
- Government’s Initiative
- Proposal to UNESCO for inscription of Chhath Puja in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- Goal: Project Indian festivals as symbols of unity, faith, and continuity across generations.
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
- ICH list promotes recognition of living traditions—rituals, festivals, performing arts, oral traditions.
- India’s 14 existing elements include: Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja, Ramlila, Kutiyattam, Nowruz, etc.
- Recognition enhances global visibility, tourism, and preservation of cultural practices.
- Political Dimension
- Announcement timed before Bihar polls.
- Chhath Puja is deeply linked to Bihari cultural pride and emotional identity.
UPSC Prelims Pointers
- Chhath Puja: Festival of Sun worship, linked with ecological sustainability and community participation.
- UNESCO ICH List: Encourages safeguarding of intangible heritage worldwide.
- India’s Entries: Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja, Ramlila, Nowruz, Kutiyattam, etc.
- UNESCO HQ: Paris, France. India is a founding member (1946).