India Participates in MONDIACULT 2025 Closing Ceremony in Barcelona, Pushes for Chhath Festival’s UNESCO Recognition
India was represented at the closing ceremony by Amita Prasad Sarbhai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture, who attended on behalf of Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
New Delhi, October 3: The UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2025 – concluded in Barcelona on October 1 with the adoption of an outcome document reaffirming culture as a global public good and setting a roadmap for stronger international cultural cooperation.
India was represented at the closing ceremony by Amita Prasad Sarbhai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture, who attended on behalf of Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The Minister had earlier led India’s delegation at the opening ceremony and ministerial plenary session on September 29, serving as Co-Chair for the Asia-Pacific Region.
The Indian delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs. On the sidelines, the team met with cultural representatives from the Netherlands and Fiji to seek support for the multinational inscription of Chhath Mahaparv under UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage framework.
The closing ceremony featured cultural performances, presentations of Youth Forum conclusions, and interventions from civil society before the adoption of the final report. With wide participation from member states, MONDIACULT 2025 reinforced the role of cultural policy in sustainable development and committed to advancing heritage protection, creativity, and cultural diversity worldwide.
