The state government of Assam has been taking special care towards the promotion of Bihu. Few months back, the state created two world records with Bihu dance. And now the government is planning to get the Intangible Cultural Heritage status from UNESCO. A meeting was organized to that end in the Janata Bhawan of Guwahati on Thursday. The cultural affairs minister of Assam, Bimal Bora chaired this meeting.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) comes under the UNESCO. And Dilip Changkakoti, the co-ordinator for the Northeastern part of the country ICOMOS, also attended this meeting in Janata Bhawan. He provided insight into the process for securing the Intangible Cultural Heritage from UNESCO. Dilip Changkakoti also mentioned the steps required, including the documentation and regulations of the process. He also ensured that he will give his complete support for the process. Adding that it will be a proud moment for the state and the country as a whole.
Cultural resources across the country can request for the Intangible Cultural Heritage status. Oral traditions, performing arts, social traditions, information dissemination, customs, festivals, knowledge, skills, activities and traditional arts can be considered for this status. A total of events, celebrations and cultures of the country already have this status. Some of them include Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja of West Bengal, Sankirtan of Manipur, Kalbeli dance of Rajasthan, Kutiyattam, Chao and Sanskrit Drama.
During the meeting, Bimal Bora ordered the concerned officials of his department to take the necessary steps for gaining that status. He also ordered them to prepare the necessary documents for the process. He also mentioned that the application will be placed in the next ICOMOS meeting. This meeting is scheduled to be organized in Melbourne, Australia in December this year.
