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India moves to seek UNESCO recognition for Chhath Puja
Previously Kolkata’s Durga Puja was included in UNESCO’s heritage list in 2021.
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Bhavana P - Thu, 14, Aug 2025
- 16:17 EDT
- 15
Chhath Puja celebrations / Wikipedia
The Government of India has formally initiated the process of nominating Chhath Puja, the traditional festival of Bihar and Purvanchal, for inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Known for its rigorous rituals of offering prayers to the Sun God at riverbanks and water bodies, Chhath Puja is celebrated not only in India but also by diaspora communities in other countries.
Also read: Maratha military forts make it to UNESCO heritage list
Advocates of the nomination note that UNESCO recognition could facilitate the festival’s observance abroad, particularly in nations where special permissions are required for worship on natural water bodies.
The move follows a five-year campaign by Supreme Court advocate Sandeep Kumar Dubey, founder of the Chhathi Maiya Foundation.
Originally from Gopalganj, Bihar, Dubey launched the foundation with the aim of securing global recognition for Chhath Mahaparva. He personally observes the festival’s fast and, in 2024, formally appealed to the Ministry of Culture to initiate the UNESCO nomination.
His efforts culminated in a meeting with Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who endorsed the proposal and assured support. Subsequently, the government directed the Sangeet Natak Akademi to begin preparing the nomination.
A letter from the Ministry of Culture to the Akademi confirmed that the foundation’s proposal, submitted on July 24, would move forward for consideration.
Dubey emphasized that Chhath meets UNESCO’s key criteria: preservation of cultural heritage, observance across multiple countries, and an organized campaign for recognition.
The initiative mirrors the successful inclusion of Kolkata’s Durga Puja in UNESCO’s heritage list in 2021, a recognition achieved through coordinated research and advocacy.
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