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News18
3 days ago
- General
- News18
Centre Moves To Nominate Chhath Festival For UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Last Updated: The Central govt has initiated the process to include Chhath festival in UNESCO's Cultural Heritage Ministry of Culture has requested Sangeet Natak Akademi to nominate it. The Ministry of Culture has written a letter to the secretary of Sangeet Natak Akademi, asking him to nominate Chhath festival for inclusion in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. In a letter dated August 8, 2025, the Cultural ministry wrote, 'Please find enclosed herewith a communication dated 24.07.2025 from Shri Sandeep Kumar Dubey (Chairman, Chhathi Maiya Foundation) submitting the proposal for the inclusion of 'Chhath Mahaparva" under UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity." 'In this regard, SNA being the nodal agency in the matter, is requested to examine the above mentioned reference and take appropriate action," the letter further read. A letter from the Central government was sent to the SNA after Chhathi Maiya Foundation chairman Sandeep Kumar Dubey submitted a proposal for the festival's inclusion. Chhath puja is celebrated among the Hindu communities in the country, particularly from Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh. It is celebrated with devotion by communities across the world. The revered festival is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya). This four-day-long festival includes several traditions like fasting, bathing in holy rivers, and praying to the sun at both sunset and sunrise. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Gulf Business
27-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Saudi Arabia surpasses key Vision 2030 targets ahead of schedule
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in its Vision 2030 initiative, achieving and surpassing numerous targets ahead of schedule, according to the Launched in 2016 under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Vision 2030 aims to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors. The initiative is structured into three five-year phases, each building upon the successes of the previous. As of the end of 2024, 85 per cent of the 1,502 active initiatives under Vision 2030 are either completed or on track, with 674 completed and 596 progressing as planned. Additionally, 93 per cent of national programme and strategy indicators have met, exceeded, or are close to meeting their 2024 interim targets. Eight Vision 2030 targets have been achieved six years ahead of scheduled , reported Saudi Press Agency ( . Reflecting on these accomplishments, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated, 'Nine years into Vision 2030, we stand proud of what our people have accomplished. They have turned ambition into action and goals into milestones. We have not only met key targets – we have surpassed many. Looking ahead, our resolve is stronger than ever. We will accelerate delivery, embrace every opportunity, and further elevate the kingdom's position as a global leader.' Growth across sectors aligns with Vision 2030 aims In the tourism sector, the kingdom welcomed over 100 million tourists, surpassing its 2030 target seven years early. This achievement is attributed to key government initiatives, robust international marketing campaigns, and partnerships with global platforms. The introduction of e-visa programmes, now available to 66 countries, has enhanced accessibility for international visitors. Cultural advancements include the registration of eight Saudi sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the inscription of 16 cultural elements on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The kingdom also launched its first specialised college of arts at King Saud University. Economic diversification efforts have led to the Public Investment Fund's assets under management exceeding SAR3.53tn, more than triple since Vision 2030's launch. The private sector's contribution to GDP reached 47 per cent, surpassing the 2024 target. Employment in small and medium-sized enterprises reached 7.86 million, exceeding expectations. Social reforms have seen women's labour force participation rise to 36 per cent by the end of 2024, a significant increase from 17 per cent in 2017. The percentage of Saudi women in middle and senior management positions reached 43.8 per cent. The kingdom also achieved its 7 per cent unemployment target. Healthcare coverage expanded to 96.4 per cent of population centers, moving closer to the 2030 goal of 99.5 per cent. The average life expectancy increased to 78.8 years, nearing the 2030 target of 80 years. Homeownership among Saudi households reached 65.4 per cent, surpassing the 2025 target. Environmental initiatives under the 'sustainable vision' axis include the planting of over 115 million trees and the rehabilitation of more than 118,000 hectares of degraded land. The kingdom also launched its first hydrogen-powered bus and taxi, and established the world's first solar-powered desalination plant. Digital transformation in Saudi Arabia In the realm of digital transformation, Saudi Arabia ranks first in the internet users index and second globally in both the digital transformation index for companies and the technology development and application index. The digital transformation of the judicial system saw 98 per cent of litigation sessions conducted electronically, totaling over 2.3 million sessions. Major projects contributing to these achievements include the Red Sea Project, which has opened several luxury resorts and aims to attract one million visitors annually by 2030. The
Morocco World
10-04-2025
- General
- Morocco World
Morocco Submits Caftan Heritage File to UNESCO, Ending Appropriation Attempts
Doha – Morocco has finally submitted its application to inscribe the art, tradition, and craftsmanship of the Moroccan caftan on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, aiming for recognition in 2025. The submission, filed late March, follows a mandatory two-year waiting period after the inscription of Malhoun in 2023, as UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage accepts only one element per country every two years. The comprehensive dossier, titled 'Art, tradition and savoir-faire of the Moroccan caftan,' includes an extensive inventory of regional styles, techniques, and terminology. 'The caftan is a traditional Moroccan garment that draws its roots from a long history of dress traditions that have continuously evolved from medieval times to the present day,' states the UNESCO application document. The file describes it as 'a long tunic that comes in various styles and textile supports, open in the middle, dotted with buttons and buttonholes, worn with or without a mdamma belt.' It specifically catalogs various regional styles and crafting techniques, including 'Qftan tarz Ntaa, Takchita, Lmansoria, Lkeswa Lakbira, Lqmis, Jabador, Gandora,' and numerous other variations. The comprehensive dossier details the involvement of multiple craftspeople in caftan creation. 'The couturier acts as a mediator between different collaborators, maintaining direct client contact and coordinating with mâlams and maâlmates (male and female artisans),' the application states. The file identifies specific roles, including 'the weaver (zeradkhi) who handles fabric composition, combining raw materials to produce brocade, velvet, and silk,' and 'the pattern maker (fessal), a profession practiced by both women and men, specializing in caftan cutting.' Traditional craftsmanship extends to 'the âakad and sfifa makers – mâalams and apprentices who create buttons (âakad), buttonholes (âayoun), and braided trimming (sfifa),' while 'embroiderers (ttrazate) represent a feminine art form adorning the caftan, with each region maintaining its distinctive decorative language.' In addition to the traditional forms, the submission also outlines the following: Regional variations: 'Chedda Chamalia, Chedda Tanjaouia, Chedda Tetuania, Chedda Oujdia' Fabric types: 'l'Khrib, l'Bahja, Brocard Fessi, Haj Omar, Chamali, Denyajat' Embroidery styles: 'Tarz l'Ghorza, Tarz l'Hsab, Tarz l'Majboud, Tarz l'Fetla, Tarz Zemmouri' 'The caftan concerns the entire Moroccan society across different localities. It is the essential costume for occasions marking the life of Moroccan Arabs, Amazighs, and Jews,' the UNESCO application emphasizes. The document details its contemporary role: 'The Moroccan community wears the caftan during festivities and celebrations. It is the official attire for wedding ceremonies, baptism celebrations, coming-of-age rituals, first fast commemorations, tbourida equestrian events, and religious festivals.' The dossier also highlights modern evolution: 'The Moroccan caftan has gained worldwide popularity and ensured its survival through the rise of a new generation of Moroccan designers who, while honoring the past heritage and paying tribute to traditional artisans, deploy their creativity to shape modern, wearable elegant attire.' The file now awaits review at the 20th session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December. Why is caftan Moroccan? Historical records document the caftan's Moroccan origins to the 12th century Almohad dynasty, with physical evidence preserved in the Las Cantigas de Santa Maria manuscript at Madrid's El Escorial Museum. This 13th-century illumination shows Almohad caliph Abu Hafs Umar al-Murtada in Marrakesh wearing an embroidered caftan with a sword collar while receiving Castilian emissaries. During Muhammad an-Nâsir's reign, a fiscal census counted 3,490 weaving workshops and over 3,000 weavers in Fez alone. These royal weaving workshops (Tarz) expanded under the Merinid dynasty, when the garment became more widespread and luxurious. Diplomatic records show Merinid Sultan Abu Al-Hassan sent gold-embroidered garments, taffeta clothing, and silk attire to Mamluk Sultan an-Nâsir Muhammad. Ottoman sultans specifically referred to these garments as 'Fas Kaftanlar,' acknowledging their Fez origin. The late 15th century wrote a new chapter with the arrival of Andalusian refugees. Settling primarily in Tetouan, Fez, Chefchaouen, Rabat, and Salé, they integrated their embroidery techniques into Moroccan craftsmanship. The Saadian era brought revolutionary changes to the caftan. Sultan Ahmad Al-Mansur introduced the 'mansouria,' a transparent overlay worn above the traditional caftan, which evolved into today's two-piece 'takchita.' Historical accounts from Mohammed Al-Saghir Al-Ifrani describe it as 'made of blue wool or silk embroidered with golden threads.' Women began adopting the caftan under the Saadians, marking its transformation into feminine attire. Male versions were often made from English-imported 'brown blues' fabric, with dark blue becoming the national color for wealthy dress. An 18th-century marriage contract from the High Atlas reveals that rural bridal trousseaus matched the sophistication of urban Fez weddings, demonstrating the caftan's reach beyond city centers. In 1830, royal correspondence documents Sultan Abderrahmane bin Hisham ordering caftans be given to Algerian refugees in Tetouan, as thousands fled French occupation of Algeria. By the 19th century, the caftan had become exclusively feminine attire. Museum collections, including those in the Oudayas Museum in Rabat, showcase caftans from this period featuring front openings with numerous clasps and rings, side slits, and waist-cinching belts made of gold or silver-threaded brocade. Pattern of appropriation Morocco's submission follows its decisive intervention at UNESCO in December 2024, when Morocco's UNESCO Ambassador Samir Addaher formally objected to Algeria's attempt to include an image of the 'caftan el-ntaa' — a Moroccan caftan of Fassi origin — in its file for traditional Algerian dress. For the first time in UNESCO's history, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage accepted Morocco's objection and ordered the removal of the caftan image from Algeria's file after reviewing evidence of its Moroccan origins. The Ministry of Culture, alongside Morocco's permanent delegation to UNESCO, presented extensive documentation proving the Moroccan origins of the caftan and the specific image Algeria attempted to use. Moroccan cultural advocates have long called for stronger protection of national heritage, citing repeated Algerian attempts at cultural appropriation, including calls to interdict the sale of traditional garments to Algeria and prohibit the movement of Moroccan craftspeople across the border to prevent exploitation. Repeated Algerian attempts to usurp various elements of Moroccan heritage — including the caftan, zellige tilework, traditional music forms, and even couscous — reflect a desperate and calculated campaign to falsify history and undermine Morocco's cultural identity. To combat such appropriation attempts, Morocco has taken action through both UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva. The country has also launched the 'Label Maroc' national initiative to protect its intangible heritage. Read also: Morocco Vows to Crack Down on Cultural Appropriation Tags: Cultural AppropriationMoroccan caftanUNESCO
