Gujarat’s Garba Receives UNESCO Recognition 

Garba, a famed traditional dance form of Gujarat, has received global recognition by being included in UNESCO’s representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). During the Navratri festival, this dance form was nominated for its inclusion in the list. The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, was the one who announced the achievement on social media platform X( formerly known as Twitter) on 6th December. 

The official website of UNESCO describes Garba as ‘A ritualistic and devotional dance that is performed on the occasion of Navaratri, which is dedicated to the worship of the feminine energy or ‘Shakti”. 

Garba is a devotional dance that is performed to honour Goddess Amba. Traditionally, the dance is mainly performed by women. The dancers move around in a circle, using simple movements while singing and clapping their hands. It is a celebration of feminine power and energy. 

UNESCO started this list to ensure better protection of culture and heritage around the world. The list combines a total of 676 elements from around the world. Garba became the 15th Indian cultural heritage to join the list. Some other famous Indian festivals that are part of the list are Durga Puja and Kumbh Mela.

In celebration of this remarkable achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his joy on the social media platform named X. He described Garbas as a celebration of life, unity and deep-rooted traditions.