UNESCO adds 25 entries to intangible heritage list

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced Thursday that it has added 25 entries to the World Intangible Cultural Heritage list at a meeting of its Intergovernmental Committee here.

The traditional use of Chinese abacus or Zhusuan, making and sharing kimchi in Korea and Washoku, traditional dietary cultures of Japan were among 25 new elements added to the list.

China hails the addition of Chinese Zhusuan, known as the oldest "computer" in the world with a history of more than 1,800 years.

"Chinese Zhusuan is a time-honored traditional method of performing mathematical calculations with an abacus. The addition indicates that Zhusuan still has advantage over computer even in the modern society," said Zhu Jinxiu, deputy director of the Chinese Zhusuan Association.

Other additions include Annual pilgrimage to the mausoleum of Sidi 'Abd el-Qader Ben Mohammed in Algeria, Imzad music in Algeria, Mali and Niger, Jamdani weaving in Bangladesh, Belgium's shrimp fishing on horseback, Cirio de Nazare, a catholic procession in Brazil, Mediterranean diet, Ethiopia's Commemoration feast, Limousin septennial ostensions in France, Ancient Georgian traditional wine-making, Sankirtana music in India, Italy's celebrations of big shoulder-borne processional structures, and Kyrgyz epic trilogy.

Mongolia's traditional craftsmanship, skills and rituals of Peru, Christmas ritual in Romania and Moldova, Senegal's divination ceremony, Slovakia's music, Macedonia's feast of the Holy, Turkish coffee, Ukrainian decorative painting, Venezuela's celebration of San Pedro, and Vietnam's music also made the list.

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meets annually to evaluate nominations and decide whether or not to inscribe cultural practices and expressions of intangible heritage on the List.