UNESCO TO CONSIDER INCLUDING ARMENIAN VARDAVAR PROTECTED INTANGIBLE HERITAGE
news.am
Nov 21 2011
Armenia
Mongolian calligraphy, Armenian fertility rites or French
horsemanship? UNESCO envoys will meet this week to decide which of
84 traditions should join UNESCO’s list of protected “intangible
heritage”, reports British Columbia with a reference to France-Press.
UN cultural agency suspended the work this month after the U.S.
suspended the funding, a circumstance stemming from Palestinian
affiliation. The envoys, nevertheless, will meet on Bali Island on
November 22-29.
The delegates will determine which of the national traditions merit
being included into the list of world important practices and which
should therefore be protected for the future generations and join
the 215 practices already approved by the UN.
Armenia, for example, will be promoting Vardavar, a festival in honor
of pagan goddess of love Astghik. Armenians mark this day by spilling
water over each other and passers-by.