Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India’s heritage is not mere nostalgia but a “living and growing river” that nurtures knowledge, creativity and community.

In a written message to delegates attending the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) at the Red Fort, the PM said culture flourishes not just through monuments or manuscripts but in the everyday expressions of people — festivals, rituals, arts and craftsmanship. Intangible heritage, he added, carries the “moral and emotional memories” of societies and must be preserved to protect global cultural diversity.

The message was read out during the opening ceremony by Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal, in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany. This is the first time India is hosting a session of the UNESCO panel, scheduled from December 8–13.

The Red Fort complex showcased India’s vibrant cultural legacy through thematic galleries and performing arts as the inaugural event unfolded. India’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Vishal V Sharma, also attended the ceremony.

UNESCO said the session will evaluate fresh nominations for inscription on the ICH lists, review the status of existing elements, and extend international assistance for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

Addressing the gathering, Shekhawat said the Red Fort stands as an enduring witness to India’s civilisational continuity, and hosting the meet is both a matter of pride and a reminder of the country’s deep-rooted cultural ethos.