LIST OF INDIA INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

India - Chhau dance

tradition from eastern India

Enacts episodes from epics including the Mahabharata and Ramayana, local folklore and
abstract themes.
Taught to male dancers from families of traditional artists or from local communities.

India - Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan

Kalbelia songs disseminate mythological knowledge through stories, while special traditional
dances are performed during Holi, the festival of colours.
Women in flowing black skirts dance and swirl,
replicating the movements of a serpent, while men accompany them on the khanjari percussion
instrument and the poongi, a woodwind instrument traditionally played to capture snakes.

India - Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala

Based on the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika.
Mudiyettu is performed annually in Bhagavati Kavus, the temples of the goddess, in different
villages along the rivers Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar and Moovattupuzha.
After the summer crops have been harvested, the villagers reach the temple in the early
morning on an appointed day. Mudiyettu performers purify themselves through fasting and
prayer,
then draw a huge image of goddess Kali, called as kalam, on the temple floor with coloured
powders, wherein the spirit of the goddess is invoked

RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS OF INDIA

Kumbha Mela

normal Kumbha Mela : after every 3 years

Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag
Purna Kumbha Mela takes place every twelve years at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain
and Nashik.

Holi

celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month
phalguna which usually falls in the later part of February or March.

Maha Shivaratri: celebrated every year on the 13th night in the Krishna Paksha of the month of
Phalguna.
Guru Purnima: Buddhists in the honor of the lord Buddha who gave his first sermon on this day at
Sarnath, Uttarpradesh, while Hindus on this day offer Puja or pay respect to their Guru.

The Dree Festival: is an agricultural rite. The rite is observed by the Apatanis in Arunachal
Pradesh. It involves the sacrifice of fowls, eggs and animals to the sun and moon god. The purpose of the
festival is to appease these Gods so that famine could be avoided.

Muharram: The word "Muharram" is often considered synonymous with "Ashura", the tenth day of
the Muharram month. is the first month of the Islamic calendar.

Easter: Easter is the oldest and holiest Christian festival. Easter is the day when JesusChrist was crucified
and the Christians offer prayers and services in the Churches.

MUSICAL FESTIVALS

Chembai Music Festival

held annually in Thiruvananthapuram in September in memory of Chembai Vaidyanath

Bhagawather.
The highlight of the festival is group singing of Saint Thyagarajas Pancharatna Krithis on
Dasami day by several leading artists.
A group concert mark the end of the festival on the night of Ekadasi.

Dover Lane Music Festival

One of the largest Indian Classical musical events is being held in Kolkata every year between
January 22 and 26.

Gunidas Music Festival

First presented way back in 1977 in Mumbai. Now it is held in Mumbai, Kolkata
and Delhi every year.

ITC Music Festival

started in 1971
Conducted by the ITC Sangeeth research Academy.
It is held in different places in India. A substantial cash award is given to one of the oldest living
musicians of stature during this Sammelan
Recognized as a great honour in the world of Indian classical music.

Saptak Music Festival

Conducted on the first week of January in Ahmedabad every year.

This festival was inaugurated by Pt. Ravi Shankar in 1980.
All leading vocalist as well as instrumentalists participates on this platform regularly.
Savai Gandharva Music Festival

Held in commemoration of Pandit Rambhan Kundgolkar, the eminent Khyal Singer.

His student, Pandi Bhimsen Joshi conducts the festival to observe his Gurus death anniversary.

Tansen Music Festival

Held in Gwalior in memory of the great musician Tansen, the father of Hindustani Music
especially the Drupad style.
Held, near the tomb of Tansen at Behat, Gwalior in the month of November/ December every
year.

Thyagaraja Music Festival

Held in Thiruvaiyaru (situated 13kms from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu), where the great saint and
music composer Thyagaraja lived and attained Samadhi.
Eight day music festival is held every year towards the end of January.
The venue is near his Samadhi on the banks of river Cauvery.

Chennai music and dance festival

Held during mid December to mid January in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Gharanaa Music Festival

An annual festival of Hindustani classical music held in January in Chennai.

Usually conducted at Museum Theatre in Egmore, Chennai annually for three days.
Aim of this festival is to initiate South Indian music lovers with the Hindustani music, especially
the Dhrupad style.

Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad Festival

Festival of dance and music held in November in Soneri Mahal in Aurangabad.

Soorya Music Festival

Classical music and dance festival is conducted for 10 days every years in Trivandrum, Kerala.
It starts from Ist October to 10th October. The festival is organized by Soorya stage and Film
Society founded by Soorya Krishnamoorthy

Swathi Music Festival

Festival of music celebrating the compositions of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal.

Held from 6 to 12 January every year at the courtyard of Kuthira Malika, Trivandrum
Conducted by HH Sri. Rama Varma Maharaja of Travancore Trust.