Five elements added to intangible heritage National Inventory

Kathmandu, June 14: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has included five new elements of intangible cultural heritage to the national inventory recognising an important step toward preserving and promoting the county’s diverse cultural traditions. The decision was announced by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation through a press release issued on June 12, 2026.

According to the ministry, the newly enlisted cultural practices were selected following recommendations made under the provisions of the Internal Guidelines on Intangible Cultural Heritage (Inventory and Management 2082). 

The recognition aims to ensure the long-term protection, documentation and promotion of traditional practices that have been preserved by local communities for generations.

The five newly recognised heritage elements include Ladi (Koshi) Puja of the Majhi community in Sindhuli, Marin Rural Municipality Ward No. 5 and 6 of Kapilakot and the Bhume Puja of the Magar community in Lumbini, Rukum East, Bhume Rural Municipality Ward No 2 Kakri. 

Tongue piercing festival celebrated by the Newar community in Madhyapur Thimi of Bhaktapur of Ward No 8, Shree Nilbarahi Gana Dance, another significant cultural procession of the Newar community in Madhyapur Thimi Ward No. 8, and Nacharu Swang Dance, a traditional performance practiced by the Magar community in Lumbini, Rolpa, Madai Rural Municipality Ward No. 6 are other elements. 

The ministry stated that these cultural traditions represent unique forms of social practices, rituals, festive events and performing arts that contribute to Nepal’s rich cultural identity. Many of these traditions are deeply connected with local beliefs, community solidarity, agricultural cycles, and indigenous knowledge systems. Through their inclusion in the national inventory, the government seeks to strengthen efforts to safeguard these traditions from the risks posed by rapid social and cultural change.

Officials noted that Nepal is home to hundreds of ethnic, linguistic, and cultural communities, each 

possessing distinctive traditions and customs. 

Preserving intangible cultural heritage has therefore become a priority not only for cultural conservation but also for strengthening social cohesion and cultural diversity. 

The national inventory serves as an official record of such traditions and provides a basis for future conservation programmes, academic research, and awareness campaigns.

The ministry further explained that intangible cultural heritage encompasses a wide range of living traditions, including oral expressions, rituals, festivals, traditional craftsmanship, performing arts, and indigenous knowledge systems. 

Unlike physical monuments and historical structures, these cultural practices survive through active participation and transmission from one generation to another. 

As a result, their protection requires continuous engagement and support from local communities.

The ministry emphasised that the newly enlisted heritage elements will receive greater visibility through documentation, promotion, and preservation initiatives. It also reiterated its commitment to identifying and safeguarding additional cultural traditions from across the country in the coming years.

With the latest additions, Nepal’s national inventory of intangible cultural heritage continues to expand, reflecting the country’s cultural richness and its commitment to protecting traditions that form an integral part of the nation’s identity and collective memory.

The Ministry stated that after the concerned community completed all necessary procedures and submitted supporting evidence, all five elements of intangible cultural heritage were included in the intangible cultural heritage list based on recommendations from the evaluation and recommendation committee. 

Last year, for the first time Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) officially listed Yomari, a traditional dish of the Newar community, as an intangible cultural heritage.