• International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has recommended the inclusion of Santiniketan in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

ABOUT SANTINIKETAN

• Santiniketan is a renowned cultural and heritage place located in Birbhum District, West Bengal.
• It was the home of Rabindranath Tagore, where he lived and composed many of his literary works, including songs, poems, and novels.
• The Santiniketan campus is adorned with splendid sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings created by renowned artists such as Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar, Binodbehari Mukhopadhyay, and others.
• The region of Birbhum District, where Santiniketan is located, is also famous for its fairs and festivals.
• Santiniketan celebrates unique festivals like Briksharopan (festival of Planting Saplings) and Halakarshan (festival of Plowing the Fields) on the 22nd and 23rd days of Sravana (August), respectively.
• Poush Mela is an annual fair and festival held in Santiniketan, starting on the 7th day of the month of Poush. The fair lasts for three days.
  • It is known for live performances of Bengali folk music, particularly by bauls (traditional wandering minstrels), and also features tribal dances.
    

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON MONUMENTS AND SITES (ICOMOS)

• Established in 1965 as an outcome of 2^nd Congress of Architects and Specialists of Historic Buildings, held in Venice in 1964.
• It is a global non-governmental organization associated with UNESCO.
• Mission– to promote the conservation, protection, use and enhancement of monuments, building complexes and sites.
• HQ: Paris, France
• It comprises professionals, experts, representatives from local authorities, companies and heritage organizations from around 151 countries including India.
• It is also an Advisory Body of World Heritage Committee for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO.