From December 13 till 18, members of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee will consider 55 new applications for inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Among them are the dutar making craftsmanship in Turkmenistan and traditional music performing art combined with singing.

The 16th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Protection is being held online. Hundreds of representatives of states including from Turkmenistan - Gadam Besherov, executive secretary of the National Commission for UNESCO and attaché of the country's permanent mission to UNESCO attend the meeting.

Intangible cultural heritage includes oral traditions, performing arts, ceremonies and rituals, festivals, traditional knowledge and skills related to nature and the surrounding world, as well as know-how and traditional crafts. The Representative List of the Intangible Heritage includes those traditions and expressions that are of value to all humankind. There are now almost 500 items on this list.

From Turkmenistan, it included, among other things, the epic "Gerogly", the national art of singing and dancing "kushtdepti" and traditional Turkmen carpet weaving. Several more objects of the national heritage are awaiting their turn to be included - nominations are being prepared for entering the traditions of raising Akhal-Teke horses and breeding Alabai into the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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