UNESCO Intangible Heritage did not Register Nowruz

News Category: Cultural

UNESCO did not accept Nowruz file presented by Iran along with the neighboring countries sharing the New Year ceremony for registration as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage.

After two years of waiting and preparation, countries from Persian civilization territory witnessed the registration of their Nowruz file being turned down.

The incompleteness of the file has been announced as the main reason for the file not being registered; however, no official figure has given any further explanation and the deputy of Iran’s ambassador to UNESCO, Mohammad Ali Vahdat, believes that despite the reason provided, Nowruz file was one of the most comprehensive files presented in the session.

“I believe UNESCO is trying to register intangible heritage which are on the verge of distinction, and Nowruz is not fading away. UNESCO members of the meeting explained that the file will be registered in another time,” added Vahdat.

Ten countries from the Persian civilization territory, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, India, and Iran, presented Nowruz for registration as a multinational heritage.

UNESCO jury met from 20 to 24 November, examining 64 national and multinational candidatures for registration as Oral and Intangible Heritage. Of the 64, 43 heritages were proclaimed and added to the UNESCO list of Oral and Intangible Heritage on 25 November by UNESCO Director General, Koichiro Matsuura.

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