BISHKEK (TCA) — The celebration of Navruz, the New Year holiday shared by 12 countries including in Central Asia, was inscribed on November 30 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, following the decisions adopted by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, UNESCO said on its website. Recognising its universal appeal, in December 2014, the United Nations had proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day. Yoga thus becomes the 13th intangible cultural heritage that has been listed from India so far with Unesco, according to a statement by the ministry of culture. This Declaration of Yoga as a ‘Human Treasure’ enjoyed the unanimous support of the 24-member inter-governmental Committee which overturned the decision of an Evaluation Body of technical experts, seeking to defer the case to the next session of the Committee in 2017.”

India’s existing entries include the Chhau dance (inscribed in 2010), the Buddhist chanting of Ladakh (2012), Sankirtana (the ritual singing, drumming, and the dancing of Manipur (2013), the traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab (2014), and Ramlila )the traditional performance of the Ramayana (2008).
Yoga, rumba and Nowruz are classified as 'treasures' by UNESCO.