UNESCO recently added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its 2021 list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, giving international recognition to one of the biggest religious festival of India.

“Durga Puja is an annual festival celebrated in September or October, most notably in Kolkata, in West Bengal, but also in other parts of India and amongst the Bengali diaspora,” the UNESCO wrote on its website, mentioning the cultural activities, involvement of artisans and participation of the masses.

“Durga Puja is seen as the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and as a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers. The festival is characterized by large-scale installations and pavilions in urban areas, as well as by traditional Bengali drumming and veneration of the Goddess. During the event, the divides of class, religion and ethnicities collapse as crowds of spectators walk around to admire the installations,” the UNESCO said.

It is pertinent to mention that traditional yoga and the Kumbh Mela got the recognition in 2016 and 2017 respectively.