Sat Dec 06 05:42:10 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:

Summary:

India is hosting the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) from December 8-13, 2025, at the Red Fort in New Delhi. The inaugural ceremony is on December 7th, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attending as the chief guest. Over 1,000 delegates from 190 countries are expected. During the event, India’s nomination of the Deepavali festival will be examined for inclusion on the UNESCO list. India currently has 15 elements on the list, and the event will showcase India’s rich cultural heritage. The Red Fort will be closed to the public during the event, but organizers are considering extending access to the showcased galleries and performances for a month afterward.

News Article:

India to Host UNESCO Intangible Heritage Meeting at Red Fort

New Delhi, December 6, 2025 – India is set to host the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) from December 8th to 13th at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi. This marks the first time India has hosted this prestigious gathering.

The inaugural ceremony will take place on December 7th, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attending as the chief guest. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the details at a press conference held at the Red Fort today. Director-General of UNESCO, Khaled El-Enany; Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to the UNESCO Vishal V Sharma are also expected to attend.

Over 1,000 delegates from 190 countries are expected to participate in the session. A key focus will be the examination of India’s nomination of the Deepavali festival for inclusion on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A decision on the nomination is expected on December 10th.

“We expect a positive outcome,” said Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal.

India currently boasts 15 elements on the UNESCO list, including the Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja in Kolkata, and the Garba dance of Gujarat.

The event will showcase India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage through site museum galleries, artifacts, state emporia, and performance arts. The Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be closed to the public from December 5th to 14th to accommodate the event. However, officials are exploring the possibility of extending access to the showcased galleries and performances for an additional month after the session concludes on December 13th.

According to UNESCO, the session will examine nominations for inscription on the UNESCO ICH lists, review the status of existing elements, and provide international assistance for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Ambassador Vishal V Sharma will chair the session.

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