The UNESCO has recognised that the concept of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) cannot be confined to built monuments and should include oral traditions, performing arts and social practices, rituals, festive events, and knowledge and skill to produce traditional crafts. The UNESCO website mentions that practices that are traditional, contemporary and alive, in which diverse cultural groups take part and has been passed on from one generation to another can be termed as ICH. And Mysuru Dasara meets most of the UNESCO parameters. Vedic chanting; Ramlila; chanting of Buddhist hymns in Ladakh; Sankirtana of Manipur; Mudiyettu — a ritual theatre and dance drama tradition of Kerala; Sanskrit theatre of Kutiyattam; Kalbelia folk songs and dance of Rajasthan; are among the nearly 10 Indian traditions recognised as ICH.
