'Matter of Great Pride': Modi Rejoices as UNESCO Lists Durga Puja as 'Intangible Cultural Heritage'

Durga Puja is the 10-day worship of Hindu mother-goddess Durga that is celebrated every year around September or October mostly in the state of West Bengal.

India's iconic Durga Puja festival was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity' by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday.

UNESCO said in a statement that Durga Puja is seen as the best example of a public performance of religion and art.

"The festival is characterised by large-scale installations and pavilions in urban areas, as well as by traditional Bengali drumming and veneration of the goddess Durga," the UNESCO statement reads.

Eric FALT, Director of UNESCO New Delhi, offers his encouragement and support on the occasion of #DurgaPuja being inscribed on the @UNESCO Representative List of Humanity's Intangible Cultural Heritage.#IntangibleHeritage #livingheritage @unesco @UNinIndia pic.twitter.com/NdlKX3LAhP

— UNESCO New Delhi (@unesconewdelhi) December 15, 2021

Calling it "a matter of great pride and joy for every Indian", Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejoiced over the move and added that Kolkata city’s Durga Puja highlights the best of India's traditions and beliefs which everyone must experience.

A matter of great pride and joy for every Indian!

Durga Puja highlights the best of our traditions and ethos. And, Kolkata’s Durga Puja is an experience everyone must have. https://t.co/DdRBcTGGs9

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 15, 2021

Several politicians and netizens took to social media to share pictures of the goddess Durga's statues.

Although some said it's a socio-cultural celebration of the best of Bengal, in which people of all walks of life participate, another commented that it's also a thriving industry on which people's livelihood depends, generating business worth millions year after year.

Overjoyed that ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ joins the @UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Many congratulations! It is a confluence of the rich heritage and culture of the county’s art, crafts, rituals and practices. Jai Maa Durga! #AmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/I7yB5pCVfd

— Ministry of Culture (@MinOfCultureGoI) December 15, 2021

Durga Puja in Kolkata joins the @UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is a recognition of the confluence of our rich heritage, culture, rituals & practices and a celebration of the feminine divinity & the spirit of womanhood.
Jai Maa Durga! pic.twitter.com/i4lNCfwWn7

— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) December 15, 2021

The amount of hardwork that goes into creating the pandals for #DurgaPuja, is unmatched. Even the idols are unique in craftsmanship pic.twitter.com/7LMVPkhGM2

— Agnivo Niyogi (অগ্নিভ নিয়োগী) (@Aagan86) December 15, 2021

We are thankful and appreciative of the UNESCO for recognizing a festival that transcends regional boundaries and merges seamlessly into a joyous celebration of feminine shakti that is truly global in its significance.#DurgaPuja #UNESCO #AmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/b3ZMRxEuXr

— Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (@ignca_delhi) December 15, 2021

#DurgaPuja in #Kolkata is nothing short of an open air street art festival pic.twitter.com/ziXhyH1efC

— Agnivo Niyogi (অগ্নিভ নিয়োগী) (@Aagan86) December 15, 2021

A proud moment for all of us as @UNESCO adds #DurgaPuja in #Kolkata, the 1st festival in Asia,to the 'Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity', giving #WestBengal a new crown of pride.#UNESCO #IntangibleHeritage #Bengal #ExperienceBengal pic.twitter.com/NSmHzgzQ1j

— West Bengal Tourism (@TourismBengal) December 15, 2021