Mangal Shobhajatra now Unesco heritage

Mangal Shobhajatra, a festival close to the heart of Bengalis, has been inscribed on Unesco’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, reports UNB.
The decision was taken on Wednesday at the 11th session of the intergovernmental committee on intangible cultural heritage, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, according to a message received here from Paris.
The Committee in its decision noted that Mangal Shobhajatra, organised by teachers and students of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts to celebrate the Bengali New Year’s Day, symbolises the pride of the people of Bangladesh in their living heritage as well as their strength and courage to fight sinister forces, and their vindication of truth and justice. The Committee also recognised that the festival represents solidarity and shared value for democracy, uniting people irrespective of cast, creed, religion, gender or age.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Unesco M Shahidul Islam is leading a four-member delegation to the Committee’s meeting at Addis Ababa.
The other members are Bangladesh Ambassador to Ethiopia and African Union Md Monirul Islam, and , Dean of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts Prof Nisar Hossain and First Secretary of Bangladesh Embassy in Paris Farhana Ahmed Chowdhury.
The inclusion of Mangal Shobhajatra on the list of cultural heritage of humanity is the result of the government’s proactive cultural diplomacy, officials said.
The enhanced visibility of Mangal Shobhajatra festival will help reinforce Bangladesh’s image as a secular and inclusive society.
The initiative to inscribe Mangal Shobhajatra on Unesco’s on the list of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage began two years ago when a nomination file on the festival prepared by Bangla Academy and approved by Ministry of Cultural Affairs was submitted to Unesco.
Since then, the nomination file underwent a number of amendments and was finally adopted by the relevant Unesco committee.

Mangal Shobhajatra now Unesco heritage

Mangal Shobhajatra, a festival close to the heart of Bengalis, has been inscribed on Unescos Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,reports UNB. The decision was taken on Wednesday at the 11th session of the intergovernmental committee on intangible cultural heritage, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, according to a message received here from Paris. The Committee in its decision noted that Mangal Shobhajatra, organised by teachers and students of Dhaka Universitys Faculty of Fine Arts to celebrate the Bengali New Years Day, symbolises the pride of the people of Bangladesh in their living heritage as well as their strength and courage to fight sinister forces, and their vindication of truth and justice. The Committee alsorecognised that the festival represents solidarity and shared value for democracy, uniting people irrespective of cast, creed, religion, gender or age. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Unesco M Shahidul Islam is leading a four-member delegation to the Committees meeting at Addis Ababa. The other members are Bangladesh Ambassador to Ethiopia and African Union Md Monirul Islam, and , Dean of Dhaka Universitys Faculty of Fine Arts Prof Nisar Hossain and First Secretary of Bangladesh Embassy in Paris Farhana Ahmed Chowdhury. The inclusion of Mangal Shobhajatra on the list of cultural heritage of humanity is the result of the governments proactive cultural diplomacy, officials said. The enhanced visibility of Mangal Shobhajatra festival will help reinforce Bangladeshs image as a secular and inclusive society. The initiative to inscribe Mangal Shobhajatra on Unescos on the list of humanitys intangible cultural heritage began two years ago when a nomination file on the festival prepared by Bangla Academy and approved by Ministry of Cultural Affairs was submitted to Unesco. Since then, the nomination file underwent a number of amendments and was finally adopted by the relevant Unesco committee.