Yoga May be Declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of India

According to Unesco Director General Irina Bokova, serving her second term, yoga may be declared intangible cultural heritage of India. During an exclusive interview she gave to Times of India (TOI) in Paris, shortly before meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she stated that this millenary practice was to be considered by the Intangible Heritage Committee for inscription in Unesco’s register.
Indian PM  Modi has been instrumental in raising global awareness on this practice, since he played a key role in having the UN declare June 21st as the International Yoga Day in 2014, a declaration that was endorsed by 175 out of 193 UN members. More recently, during his visit to France in early April this year, he unveiled a portal on yoga (www.idayofyoga.org ).  

On the other hand, the permanent delegation of India to Unesco, besides starting yoga lessons for all ambassadors, delegations, and Unesco’s secretariat, stated that “yoga is practiced by 250 million worldwide, including the 3 million in France. This art of right living was perfected and practiced in India thousands of years ago and the foundations of yoga philosophy were written down in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali in 200 AD”.
Unesco’s leader, while referring to the matter, added that “a lot of my friends have benefitted immensely, both spiritually and physically, by practicing yoga in difficult times. It is a unique living tradition of India. Unesco’s general conference in October will also look to endorse the international yoga day as spearheaded by PM Modi”.

According to her, yoga will come up for inscription in 2016. If selected, yoga will become the 31st intangible cultural heritage that has been listed from India so far with Unesco. Previous ones include the famous Chhau dance, inscribed in 2010; the Buddhist chanting of Ladakh –recitation of sacred Buddhist texts–, inscribed in 2012 as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity; Sankirtana –the ritual singing, drumming, and dancing of Manipur–, inscribed in 2013; and the traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, inscribed in 2014.