Srinagar, Dec. 12 -- The recent recognition of Deepavali by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity has ushered in an epoch-making moment for India and for the global cultural landscape. What was once celebrated primarily as a luminous Indian festival has now been elevated to an international pedestal, acknowledged by one of the most prestigious cultural institutions of the world. This development is not merely symbolic; it is historically significant, unprecedented in its magnitude, and profoundly affirming for India's civilizational ethos. UNESCO, an eminent agency of the United Nations, has always prided itself on identifying and preserving the finest expressions of human creativity, collective memory, and cultur...