“Pandharpur Wari Deserves Its Rightful Place on UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List”- Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi
· IGNCA Hosts International Interaction for UNESCO Recognition of Pandharpur Wari
New Delhi :
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, through its Cultural Informatics Division, in collaboration with the Delhi Marathi Pratishthana, organised an international interaction and presentation on the 700-year-old Pandharpur Wari tradition at Umang Conference Hall, IGNCA, New Delhi. The programme brought together representatives from several foreign embassies, distinguished scholars, cultural leaders and policymakers to build international awareness and support for the inscription of the Pandharpur Wari on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The event was attended by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA; Mr. Vaibhav Dange, President, Delhi Marathi Pratishthana; Mr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, International Relations Expert; Mr. Vivek Garge; Prof. Sudhir Lall, Dean, IGNCA and members of the diplomatic community.
The Pandharpur Wari is one of India’s most enduring living traditions, representing a remarkable confluence of devotion, equality, discipline and collective participation. Every year, millions of Warkaris undertake the sacred pilgrimage to Pandharpur, sustaining a cultural legacy that has flourished for over seven centuries. More than an annual religious journey, the Wari embodies the values of social harmony, inclusivity and shared humanity, making it one of the country’s most significant expressions of intangible cultural heritage.
Welcoming the gathering, the organisers highlighted the importance of engaging the international community in recognising and safeguarding living cultural traditions that continue to shape societies across generations. The interaction provided an opportunity for diplomats and cultural representatives to gain deeper insight into the historical, cultural and social significance of the Pandharpur Wari and its continuing relevance in contemporary India.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, reiterated the institution’s commitment to documenting, preserving and promoting India’s diverse living traditions. He observed that the Pandharpur Wari is not merely a pilgrimage but a civilisational tradition that has sustained values of devotion, equality and community participation for centuries. Expressing confidence in its universal cultural significance, he stated that the Wari deserves its rightful place on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Mr. Vaibhav Dange, President, Delhi Marathi Pratishthana, emphasised the collective responsibility of institutions and communities in preserving the Warkari tradition and enhancing global awareness of its cultural and spiritual significance. He noted that international engagement would strengthen efforts towards securing UNESCO recognition for this extraordinary living heritage.
The interaction also featured presentations on the history, philosophy and enduring legacy of the Pandharpur Wari, highlighting its unique tradition of collective pilgrimage, devotional music, literature and community participation that has been preserved across generations. The discussions accentuated the Wari’s relevance as a living embodiment of India’s pluralistic cultural ethos and its contribution to the global discourse on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
The programme concluded with a shared commitment among participants to continue promoting awareness of the Pandharpur Wari at international forums and to support the ongoing efforts towards its inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising it as a living civilisational tradition where faith continues to walk alongside equality, devotion and humanity.
