UNESCO, Royal Enfield partner to celebrate Himalayan living heritage

Over 100 cultural practices documented in ‘The Great Himalayan Exploration’

United Nations India, UNESCO and Royal Enfield joined hands to celebrate the upcoming Intangible Cultural Heritage Day with a screening of ‘The Great Himalayan Exploration’, which has documented over 100 traditions across 11 Himalayan regions. Highlights included reviving Mon-Shugu papermaking in Arunachal and wool weaving in Ladakh.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) partnered with motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield to hold a special screening of ‘The Great Himalayan Exploration’ showcase in New Delhi on Tuesday, ahead of the International Intangible Cultural Heritage Day.

In a press statement, Royal Enfield says that ‘The Great Himalayan Exploration’ is a collaborative project dedicated to documenting and safeguarding the region’s rich cultural practices. As defined by UNESCO, Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) encompasses the practices, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities, groups and sometimes individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage.

The statements adds that launched in 2022, The Great Himalayan Exploration has traversed 11 geographies including Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Assam and North Bengal documenting over 100 ICH practices and engaging with over 250 communities. The initiative aims to create awareness around living heritage practices through immersive, community-led-explorations and showcase it through exhibitions, photo stories, programming and immersive experiences. Recently, the documentation has been captured in a four-part docuseries by National Geographic, spotlighting the immersive engagements between riders and local communities.

According to the statement the evening featured screening from The Great Himalayan Exploration, including a short film on the revival of Mon-Shugu paper-making in Arunachal Pradesh a centuries-old craft being brought back to life by local artisans followed by an episode highlighting traditional wool spinning and weaving, and other living heritage practices from Ladakh.

“India’s Himalayan communities remind us that sustainable development begins with respect for people, culture and nature. The Great Himalayan Exploration is an important initiative that brings these connections to life, linking cultural heritage, environmental stewardship and local livelihoods. As we mark International Intangible Cultural Heritage Day on October 17, we are reminded that safeguarding living heritage is essential to advancing the SDGs and building a more inclusive future for all,” says Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator India.

“The Great Himalayan Exploration is an example of how communities, explorers and storytellers come together to safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage in its living form. In order to keep these practices alive across generations, rather than trying to freeze them in time, living heritage needed to be understood as dynamic, rather than static. The 2003 Convention’s definition of ICH therefore recognized that ICH is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history. UNESCO is proud to partner with Royal Enfield in an initiative that honours the voices of Himalayan communities and helps ensure their living heritage continues to inspire generations to come. As vehicles of identity and social cohesion, these traditions need to be valued and safeguarded in all their diversity,” says Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia.

“The Great Himalayan Exploration brings together rider- researchers, creative practitioners, storytellers, and experts under the UNESCO Royal Enfield partnership to celebrate the living heritage of the Himalayas. The project documents the lived experiences and cultural practices of Himalayan communities, creating meaningful connections through the journey of exploration. Beyond documentation, we are committed to sharing these stories in ways that resonate with younger audiences fostering deeper appreciation and pride in our shared cultural heritage,” says Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation, CSR arm of Royal Enfield.