9 March 2026·PIB

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND PROMOTION OF DURGA PUJA

In this note

1. At a Glance

Durga Puja in Kolkata is the first Indian festival inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity (2021) [2][3].
The Ministry of Culture (MoC) promotes the festival globally through its Global Engagement Scheme (GES), providing grants-in-aid to international organisations [1][4].
Tests cultural diplomacy, soft power, UNESCO conventions and India's intangible heritage apparatus (SNA, ASI, MoC).

PIB release dated 09 March 2026 by Ministry of Culture outlined India's measures for global promotion of Durga Puja [1].
Intergovernmental Committee Meeting of UNESCO's 2003 Convention held at the Red Fort, Delhi (8–13 December 2025) featured a Dhunuchi Naach performance before representatives of 190+ countries [1].
September 2025: Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) shared a Durga Puja video with Ippan Shadan Houjin Indojinno Tsudoi, the Indian Bengali community body in Tokyo [1].

Durga Puja is an annual 10-day worship of the goddess Durga, peaking in Kolkata, West Bengal; clay images from the Ganga are sculpted, painted on Mahalaya, and immersed on the tenth day [2].
2021: 'Durga Puja in Kolkata' inscribed at the 16th session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee, held virtually 13–18 December 2021 [2][3].
2023: MoC allotted Rs. 22,29,244 for documentation and research supporting UNESCO ICH nomination follow-up work [1].
2025: India hosted the Intergovernmental Committee Meeting at Red Fort, Delhi — first time India hosts this UNESCO body [1].

Implementing ministry: Ministry of Culture, Government of India [1].
Nodal academy: Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) — apex body for performing arts and India's nodal agency for ICH nominations [1].
Scheme: Global Engagement Scheme — grant-in-aid to international organisations for promoting Indian culture (incl. Durga Puja) abroad [1][4].
UNESCO instrument: 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage [2].
Inscription list: Representative List of the ICH of Humanity [2].
Year of inscription: 2021 (16th session) [2].
Documentation grant (FY 2023): Rs. 22,29,244 [1].
2025 IGC venue: Red Fort, Delhi; 8–13 December 2025; 190+ states [1].

Geopolitical / Strategic (Soft Power): Hosting the UNESCO IGC at the Red Fort projects India as a custodian of intangible heritage; diaspora outreach via Tokyo's Bengali community advances cultural diplomacy [1].
Social: Recognition of a community-led, urban, public festival highlights inclusive, participatory heritage involving artisans (Kumartuli), priests, drummers and pandal designers [2].
Administrative: Multi-agency model — MoC funds, SNA executes, MEA missions coordinate diaspora linkages; GES is the funding vehicle [1][4].
Economic: Drives the creative economy — idol making, dhakis, decoration, hospitality; international showcases support outbound cultural exports [2].
Ethical / Governance: UN India–UNESCO accessibility guidelines push inclusive Pujas (PwD-friendly pandals), aligning ICH with SDGs [5].

September 2025: SNA dispatched Durga Puja celebration video to Tokyo's Indian Bengali community organisation [1].
8–13 December 2025: UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee meeting at Red Fort, Delhi; Dhunuchi Naach showcased to 190+ countries [1].
09 March 2026: PIB release detailing GES funding, SNA outreach and Red Fort showcase [1].
UN India + UNESCO have issued accessibility guidelines for Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal [5].

Durga Puja in Kolkata inscribed on UNESCO Representative List of ICH of Humanity in 2021 [2].
Inscription made at the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Committee (13–18 Dec 2021, virtual) [2].
Convention under which inscription occurred: 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding ICH [2].
Implementing scheme for international promotion: Global Engagement Scheme, Ministry of Culture [1][4].
Nodal Indian agency for ICH nominations: Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) [1].
MoC allotted Rs. 22,29,244 in 2023 for Durga Puja documentation/research [1].
2025 UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee meeting venue: Red Fort, Delhi, 8–13 December 2025 [1].
Dance form performed at the 2025 IGC: Dhunuchi Naach [1].
Tokyo-based Bengali association that received SNA video (Sept 2025): Ippan Shadan Houjin Indojinno Tsudoi [1].
Goddess Durga images traditionally made from clay drawn from the Ganga; worship begins on Mahalaya [2].
Durga Puja is the first Indian festival on UNESCO's ICH Representative List [4].

GS-I: Indian Culture — Art forms, festivals; salient aspects of art and architecture from ancient to modern times.
GS-II: India and the world — Soft power, cultural diplomacy, international institutions (UNESCO).
Plausible question stems:
"UNESCO's 2003 Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage has become a vehicle for India's cultural diplomacy. Discuss with reference to Durga Puja."
"Examine the role of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ministry of Culture's Global Engagement Scheme in projecting India's soft power abroad."
"Hosting the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee at the Red Fort marks a milestone for India's heritage diplomacy. Critically evaluate."

UNESCO 2003 Convention & ICH Lists — parent legal instrument for Durga Puja inscription.
Other Indian ICH entries (Kumbh Mela, Yoga, Vedic chanting, Garba of Gujarat 2023) — for comparative MCQs.
Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi — Ministry of Culture's three akademis.
Global Engagement Scheme & Festivals of India abroad — funding architecture.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India — frequently confused with ICH.
Project Mausam, SPICMACAY, ICCR — adjacent cultural diplomacy vehicles.
2003 Convention vs 1972 World Heritage Convention — to avoid conflation.
Geographical Indications (GI) on cultural products — overlapping IP-heritage interface.

Confusing 'Durga Puja in Kolkata' (ICH, 2021) with a World Heritage Site — it is intangible, not a site under the 1972 Convention.
Attributing inscription to 2022 — actual inscription was in December 2021 (16th session) [2].
Naming Ministry of External Affairs as nodal — it is the Ministry of Culture via SNA [1].
Mixing up the Global Engagement Scheme (MoC) with ICCR's Festivals of India — different funding pots.
Citing 2003 Convention vs 2005 Convention on Diversity of Cultural Expressions — distinct UNESCO instruments.