India, Dec. 10 -- Deepavali, the festival of lights celebrated across India and the diaspora, was on Wednesday inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)'s representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as New Delhi hosts the ongoing session of the intergovernmental committee at the Red Fort.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the inscription as a moment of collective pride. "For us, Deepavali is very closely linked to our culture and ethos. It is the soul of our civilisation. It personifies illumination and righteousness. The addition of Deepavali to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List will contribute to the festival's global popularity even further," he said, add...