Kumbh Mela Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: UNESCO

Kumbh Mela Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: UNESCO

New Delhi: India's Kumbh Mela has been recognised by UNESCO as an "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" and held up as the world's largest peaceful gathering of pilgrims.

The external affairs ministry on Thursday, 7^th  December 2017 said the recognition was accorded by the Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, an entity which works under UNESCO.

The decision to recognise the Kumbh Mela was taken at its ongoing meeting in Jeju, South Korea.

The inscription of the Kumbh Mela was recommended by the expert body which examines the nominations submitted by member states. The committee observed it was the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth.

"The Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO inscribed the 'Kumbh Mela' on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 12th session held at Jeju, South Korea," the MEA said.

The session, which started on December 4, is to end on December 9.

It said the inscription was the third in two years following 'Yoga' and 'Nouroz'.

While recommending the Kumbh Mela, the expert committee observed it was the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth.

"The committee observed that 'Kumbh Mela' is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth. The festival, held in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik, represents a syncretic set of rituals related to worship and ritual cleansing in holy rivers in India," the MEA said.

"As a religious festival, the tolerance and inclusiveness that Kumbh Mela demonstrates are especially valuable for the contemporary world," the MEA said in its statement.

The committee also took note of the fact that knowledge and skills related to the 'Kumbh Mela' were transmitted through the Guru-Shishya parampara (teacher-student relationship) by way of saints and sadhus teaching their disciples about traditional rituals and chants.

Reacting to the recognition, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said it was a proud moment for India.

"A very proud moment for us as sacred Kumbh Mela is just inscribed as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO," he tweeted.

In 2003, the UNESCO General Conference had adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage as an international treaty, acknowledging that cultural heritage was more than tangible places, monuments and objects and that it also encompassed traditions and living expressions.

The Kumbh Mela joins new elements from Botswana, Colombia, Venezuela, Mongolia, Morocco, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on the UNESCO list.

Sewer pipe line bursts in Ram Ghat

Sewer pipe line bursts in Ram Ghat

Ujjain (MP): After the dust storm and heavy rains in Ujjain, sewer pipe line bursts at Ram Ghat on Monday, 9^th May 2016, ANI reports.

River water polluted at Simhasth Kumbh Mela due to sewer pipeline bursts, report said.

Earlier reports said that heavy dust storm and rains hit the Kumbh Mela at Ujjain.

Heavy rain, dust storm hit Ujjain

Heavy rain, dust storm hit Ujjain

Ujjain: Dust storm & heavy rains hit Ujjain (MP), devotees taking holy dip at Simhasth Kumbh Mela.

Devotees of Kumbh are being evacuated from spot ANI reports.

Seven dead as thunderstorm hits Ujjain Kumbh mela

Seven dead as thunderstorm
 hits Ujjain Kumbh mela

Ujjain (MP): Seven people were killed and around 90 others injured when heavy rains accompanied by lightning and squall flattened and uprooted makeshifts tents of pilgrims in and around the site of ongoing Simhatha Kumbh Mela here on Thursday, 5^th May 2016 evening.

"Seven people have been killed and 90 other injured in and around the Mela area," Ujjain Divisional Commissioner Ravindra Pastaur told PTI.The second 'Shahi Snan' (royal bath) is slated for May 9.

Prima facie, the casualties resulted due to collapse of tents and some gates erected at the Kumbh area.Among the deceased is a woman pilgrim who was killed in Undasa area when lightning struck her.

According to police official B S Chauhan, nearly a third of the tents put up by the pilgrims were blown away in the squall. It will take at least a week to erect them again, he said. Authorities fear that the death toll may rise as the rescuers are clearing the collapsed tents and pulling out the people trapped under them.

Terming the incident as painful, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased persons and Rs 50,000 to seriously injured and Rs 25,000 to the minor injured, an official spokesman said. Chouhan would visit Ujjain tomorrow to take stock of the situation.

He tweeted that rescue teams, officials and public representatives have reached the spot and that they will take care of the pilgrims.

The rain made large parts of the Mela ground slushy, making the rescue operation difficult. Authorities have cut off the electricity supply to the area as a precautionary measure.

The deceased have been identified as Rumal Kaur, Amba Bai, Prahlad, Bhagirath, Rishi Prasad and Bhuti Bai, District Hospital Police Post Head Constable Babulal said. However, the identity of the woman pilgrim who was killed in Undasa area is not established yet.

According to eye witnesses, a big drainage suffered a breach on Ramghat on the banks of Kshipra river as a result of which filthy water is gushing into the river.