On December 16, it was decided to include the nomination document “Pomegranate Holiday, Traditional Pomegranate Festival and Culture” submitted by Azerbaijan in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Ministry of Culture told QİA.AZ.
The adoption of such an important decision for our country was possible due to First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva’s support and the joint activities of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to UNESCO and the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO.
Speaking on behalf of the Azerbaijani delegation, Ministry of Culture official Vasif Eyvazzadeh thanked UNESCO and the organization’s evaluation body on behalf of our country for the decision. He spoke about pomegranate culture and traditions in the cultural life, mythology, ancient traditions, cuisine and agriculture of the Azerbaijani people. He stressed that The speech of gratitude noted that the inclusion of this nomination file in the relevant list made a significant contribution to the protection of “Pomegranate Culture” and passing to future generations.
With the support of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ICESCO Mehriban Aliyeva, who has rendered invaluable services in expanding cooperation with UNESCO, protection and promotion of our cultural heritage worldwide, currently, “Dada Gorgud’s heritage: Epic culture, folk tales and music”, the preparation of kamancha and performing art, dolma making and sharing tradition, Azerbaijani mugam singing, lavash cooking and sharing tradition, Lahij coppersmith art, ashug art, Novruz holiday, carpet art, tar performance, the art of kalagai are included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as well as the Chovgan – traditional Karabakh equistrian game and “Yalli, traditional group dances of Nakhchivan” are on the list of cultural heritage.
15th meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is being held on December 14-19.