UNESCO Kathmandu begins enlisting intangible heritages in Thame

Kathmandu, June 2: Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, in cahoots with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Kathmandu, has started enlisting intangible heritages of Khumbu Pasang Lhyamu Rural Municipality-5, Thame in Solukhumbu.

UNESCO Kathmandu designed a project and sent a study team along with experts to Thame after the avalanche-triggered flooding occurred on 17 August 2023 adversely affected settlements and property.

Based on the findings of the study carried out with community participation, information on cultural heritage assets in the process of being listed in Thame was provided at a discussion programme held today in Nagarkot, Bhaktapur.

Researcher Dr Nilkamal Chapagain shared that the list includes culinary items such as potato bread, sorkim, tho and rildom (potato dishes), as well as festivals and customs like Mani Rimdu, Dumji, Lhosar, Chechu, Chirim and Bidai rituals.

He emphasized the need to protect living cultural heritage, noting comprehensive study could increase the list.

At the programme, Dr Suresh Suraj Shrestha, under-secretary at the Ministry, informed that the government has started documenting intangible cultural heritage in keeping with UNESCO headquarters’ policy.

A campaign has been launched to document intangible heritage across all seven provinces. It may be noted that Nepal had ratified the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 17 October 2003, in 2010.

At the programme, Nepal’s UNESCO representative, Yako Du Toit, shared the study was conducted focusing on the Sherpa community residing in the Himalayan region and it would be published based on suggestions received from stakeholders.

Archana Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, said that four glacial lakes have formed in Nepal so far and that they significantly impact the lives of local people, so attention should be given to put in place early awareness drive.

Sushma Rana, Chief Conservation Officer at Sagarmatha National Park, shared the Sherpa community people are committed to conserve heritage conservation.

For the protection and documentation of intangible cultural heritage in Nepal, the Ministry has prepared the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Listing and Management) Procedure 2081.

The related bill to this effect was recently passed by the National Assembly. —