India has applied for Bengal's biggest cultural and spiritual festival, Durga Puja, to be included in UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Culture Heritage. West Bengal government had earlier asked the central government for the festival which is celebrated across various states of India and Bangladesh, with its epicentre in Kolkata, to be added to this list.

As the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) meets in Paris on December 13 to consider applications for the Representative List of Intangible Culture Heritage from around the world, India’s application for the Durga Puja will be high on the list.

Durga Puja is the second major spiritual and cultural festival for which India has sought the tag of intangible cultural heritage. In 2017, the Kumbh Mela was recognised during UNESCO’s 12th session held in Jeju, South Korea. A decision by UNESCO is expected to be announced on December 18, at the end of the meeting.

....