Deepavali | Global Knowledge Systems

Overview

Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is a light festival celebrated annually by diverse individuals and communities across India, that marks the last harvest of the year and the start of a new year and new season. Based on the lunar calendar, it falls on the new moon in October or November and lasts several days. It is a joyous occasion that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. During this time, people clean and decorate their homes and public spaces, light lamps and candles, set off fireworks, and offer prayers for prosperity and new beginnings. Deepavali is a time for people, families and communities to come together to exchange gifts and sweets, share meals, and celebrate with music, dance and rituals. The practice involves people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. It is passed on informally within families and communities, with elders teaching children...

This record is imported from the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage public dataset as discovery metadata. ARED has not independently verified community authority, access protocols or local naming beyond the source record.

Community and Authority

Communities: India
Languages: Not specified in UNESCO dataset
Cultural territories: India
Countries: India

How the System Works

Music, Performance and Oral Literature Language, Story and Memory Material Culture, Design and Technology Food, Agriculture and Seasonal Practice Ceremony, Spirituality and Cosmology Migration, Diaspora and Urban Life Ways of Knowing and Knowledge Transmission

Sources and Evidence

Imported from UNESCO DataHub dataset ich001. Field-level provenance is retained in the record metadata.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage ListsDataset

Open original source record

Field-Level Provenance

title: UNESCO DataHub field title_en
preferredTitle: UNESCO DataHub field title_fr
summary: UNESCO DataHub field description_en
type: UNESCO DataHub fields type_of_element_en and type_acronym
countries: UNESCO DataHub field countries, ISO codes resolved with ISO-3166 regional metadata
categories: ARED category inference from UNESCO concepts_primary_names, concepts_secondary_names and title
relationships: UNESCO concepts_primary_names, concepts_secondary_names, type fields and World Heritage links
sourceUrl: UNESCO DataHub field http_url_en
rights: UNESCO DataHub dataset metadata license and license_url

Original Source Metadata

uuida9bd0a13-9ce2-433c-8ce2-3dae1d68a9e6

ich_public_ref2312

inscription_year2025

title_enDeepavali

title_frDipavali

type_of_element_enRepresentative List

type_acronymRL

countriesIN

http_url_enhttps://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/02312

concepts_primary_namesEpic poetry, Festivals, Light

concepts_secondary_namesCostumes, Diaspora, Food preparation, Handicrafts, Hinduism, Income, Instrumental music, Intergenerational relationship, Prosperity ritual, Social inclusion

main_image_urlhttps://ich.unesco.org/img/photo/thumb/18580-LRG.jpg

main_image_caption_enOld & new generations: Deepavali celebrations with family

main_image_copyrightAK Films & Sangeet Natak Akedmi

main_image_authorNot supplied

videoshttps://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Uo_ZhsxQm_Q

images[object Object], [object Object], [object Object]

Why This Record Is Credible

This public record is connected to 1 source and has been labelled Source Supported. ARED separates evidence sources from cultural authority so users can see both provenance and review limits.

Cultural Access

Use this as public discovery metadata only. It does not replace community authority or local access protocols.

Relationships

Epic poetry Festivals Light Costumes Diaspora Food preparation Handicrafts Hinduism Income Instrumental music Intergenerational relationship UNESCO representative list

Review and Corrections

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