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"Sankirtana: Ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur" nominated from India is among the 14 elements inscribed on the Representative List of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This was announced at the eighth session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan, held from December 2 to 7. It is practised at the centre of a temple, where performers narrate the lives and deeds of Krishna through songs and dance. In a typical performance, two drummers and about ten singer-dancers perform in a hall or domestic courtyard encircled by seated devotees. The dignity and flow of aesthetic and religious energy is unparalleled, moving audience members to tears. Sankirtana brings people together on festive occasions throughout the year, acting as a cohesive for
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