New Delhi, Dec. 11 -- Deepavali, the festival of lights celebrated by millions across India and the diaspora, was on Wednesday inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - a milestone that comes as New Delhi hosts the ongoing session of the Intergovernmental Committee at the Red Fort. The recognition, arriving a year after Kolkata's Durga Puja made it to the global heritage register, marks a fresh international endorsement of India's living cultural traditions. 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," the Prime Minister said, adding that people in India and abroad were "thrilled" to see the festival acknowledged on the world stage. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat welcomed the development as "a historic day for India", saying the honour celebrates Deepavali's universal message-"hope over despair, harmony over division, and light for all." He noted that India's cultural heritage is receiving "unprecedented global recognition" during the present government's tenure. The inscription comes even as the Capital has been staging an elaborate cultural showcase to coincide with the six-day UNESCO meeting, with the government positioning Deepavali as a defining symbol of India's civilisational continuity. Delhi's preparations began early this week, drawing global attention on Tuesday evening when the Delhi Secretariat lit up in tricolour hues and golden roof lights, signalling the city's full-scale embrace of the festival's imagery and themes. Officials confirmed that the December festivities, including the illumination of key government buildings, decorative installations across public spaces, diya displays, and district-level cultural programmes, are aimed at presenting Deepavali as a lived tradition embedded in communities across India. At the Red Fort - the main venue for the UNESCO proceedings - delegates from more than 180 countries will witness curated performances, ceremonial lighting rituals, and exhibitions on traditional arts associated with the festival. India now has 15 elements on UNESCO's intangible heritage list, ranging from yoga and Vedic chanting to the Kumbh Mela, Garba, Ramlila, and Kolkata's Durga Puja. The country has also forwarded a nomination for Bihar's Chhath Puja for the next evaluation cycle....