Centre pitching for UNESCO cultural heritage tag for Bihar’s Chhath Puja: PM Modi
When Chhath Puja is included in the UNESCO list, people in every corner of the world will be able to experience its grandeur and divinity.
The Government of India is pushing for inclusion of Bihar’s biggest festival Chhath Puja in the UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.
“The Government of India is striving to include the Chhath Mahaparva in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. When Chhath Puja is included in the UNESCO list, people in every corner of the world will be able to experience its grandeur and divinity,” Modi said in the 126th edition of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ on September 28.
“Our festivals keep India’s culture alive. Chhath Puja is one such sacred festival that comes right after Diwali. Dedicated to the Sun God, this great festival is very special. In it, we offer ‘arghya’ even to the setting sun and worship him,” Modi said.
He said Chhath Puja was celebrated not just in various parts of the country, but its radiance seen across the world. “Today, it is becoming a global festival,” he said.
Modi said when Chhath Puja finds a place in Unesco’s list, people across the world will be able to experience its grandeur and divinity. He pointed out that Kolkata’s Durga Puja had earlier received a similar recognition, reinforcing the possibility of Chhath securing global acknowledgment.
During his campaign for Bihar’s last assembly poll, Modi had highlighted his scheme of free distribution of foodgrains, saying it ensured that women in Bihar celebrated Chhath.
Looking ahead to the festive season, Modi urged citizens to prioritise local products. “If we give our cultural celebrations global recognition, the world will know them, understand them and come forward to participate. At the same time, I appeal to people to buy local products. This not only boosts traditional industries but directly benefits the families making them, thereby strengthening economy from the grassroots.”
By foregrounding Chhath – an occasion particularly significant in Bihar and the east – Modi sought to underline cultural pride and govt’s effort to elevate regional traditions to global platforms. He framed the festival as a contributor to economic empowerment.
The Prime Minister remarked that Kolkata’s Durga Puja was made a part of the UNESCO’s following the initiative taken by the central government.
“If we accord our cultural events such global recognition, the world will also know about them, understand them, and come forward to participate in them,” the Prime Minister said.
