Kathmandu, April 17: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is set to launch a project to list intangible cultural heritage in all seven provinces.
It is said that under the project, at least 20 intangible cultural heritage elements will be listed, focusing on the cultural traditions of 17 communities across the seven provinces. This information was shared at a programme held in the federal capital on Friday.
At the programme, Ministry Secretary Mukunda Prasad Niraula described Nepal as a country rich in cultural traditions and underlined the need to preserve intangible heritage. “Unique cultural beliefs exist among various communities, which believe that the worship of nature and the smashing of earthenware can bring rain.”
He said that the preservation of such heritage is possible only if the concerned communities actively work towards it. Secretary Niraula also pledged to introduce necessary policies and laws to support this effort.
UNESCO Nepal representative Jaco d Toit hoped the project would help in the recognition and listing of intangible cultural heritage.
It may be noted that in a call previously announced by the government, a total of 105 applications were received, and Yamari (a traditional homemade confectionary of the Newar community) was listed. According to Ministry’s Culture Division Chief and Joint Secretary Dr Suresh Sarash Shrestha, remaining 104 applicants were awaiting completion of the required procedures. He added that this year, the Division is facilitating them in meeting the requirements.
