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Mind-body discipline is added to intangible cultural heritage list along with Cuba’s rumba and Peruvian scissors dance.

The UNESCO’s list of intangible world heritage has one more new entrant. This is none other than Yoga, which is considered as the mind-body discipline based on the ancient Indian philosophy. This is now practised all over the world.

According to a statement from the world heritage committee, the addition of Yoga to this prestigious list was based on its impact on Indian society, right from health and medicine to education and arts.

“Designed to help individuals build self-realisation, ease any suffering they may be experiencing and allow for a state of liberation, yoga is practised by the young and old without discriminating against gender, class or religion,” UNESCO added in a tweet.

This list of intangible cultural treasures was compiled 10 years ago to increase their awareness. UNESCO is also known to offer financial or technical support to countries struggling to protect them.

Recently, the Paris-based UN body added Cuba’s rumba dance and Belgium’s beer culture to this list. Others in this list that deserves mention include, the Mediterranean diet, Peking opera and the Peruvian scissors dance.

Unesco began compiling a list for cultural and natural world heritage – physical properties such as Cambodia’s Angkor Wat or the Grand Canyon in the United States – in 1972.

The list now comprises 814 cultural sites, 203 natural ones and 35 with both natural and cultural qualities such as Australia’s Uluru national park, formerly known as Ayer’s Rock.

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