Chhath Mahaparva
- Blogs
- September 18, 2025
Syllabus: GS1 / Culture
Context: India is exploring a multinational nomination of ‘Chhath’ for inscription in UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
About Chhath Mahaparva
- Deity: Dedicated to Sun God (Surya) and Goddess Chhathi Maiya.
- Regions: Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, West Bengal; diaspora communities in Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, UAE, Netherlands.
- Duration: Four-day festival.
- Ethos: Ecological, egalitarian, sustainable, inclusive, and community-oriented.
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
- India already has 15 elements inscribed (e.g., Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja).
- Nodal Agency: Sangeet Natak Akademi.
- Requires submission of nomination dossier under the 2003 UNESCO Convention.
Do You Know?
- ICH Definition: Practices, expressions, knowledge, and skills that form intangible aspects of culture (songs, drama, rituals, crafts).
- Implications
- Boosts soft power diplomacy via cultural heritage.
- Global recognition for diaspora identity.
- Promotes cultural tourism & ecological ethos.