11 October 2009
Nauruz celebration and Katta Ashula (Uzbekistan) are among the 76 elements inscribed on 30 September 2009 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
These 76 inscriptions were decided by the 24 Member States of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage, which held its 4th session in Abu Dhabi from 28 September to 2 October under the chairmanship of Awadh Ali Saleh Al Musabi (United Arab Emirates). One of the tasks of the Committee will be to inscribe the first elements on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.Among the others nominations in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity there are two nominations of Central Asia countries:
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz - Kyrgyzstan; Uzbekistan; Azerbaijan; India; Iran (Islamic Republic of); Pakistan; Turkey - marks the New Year and the beginning of spring across a vast geographical area. It is celebrated on 21 March every year, a date originally determined by astronomical calculations.
Katta Ashula (literally ‘big song’) –- is a type of traditional song that forms part of the identity of various peoples of the Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan, which is also home to Tajiks, Uyghurs and Turks, and of some regions of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. An original genre, Katta Ashula combines performing arts, singing, instrumental music, Eastern poetry and sacred rites.
Among the Central Asian countries, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan ratified the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, while Kazakhstan and Tajikistan has not ratified the Convention yet.
Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/nauruz-and-katta-ashula-inscribed-into-unesco-s-representative-list-of-intangible