Intangible dimensions of urban heritage

Abstract

This chapter explores the relationship between intangible cultural heritage and historic urban landscapes, using the ideas of heritage in the context of India. The basic concept of heritage in the Indian context is referred to as dharohara that projects and maintains the roots and identities of cultural landscapes. Taking in view UNESCO’s guidelines on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), the Indian concept of ICH is defined in terms of continuity of tradition, inclusiveness in making people’s social identity, cultural representation, and fellowship of community. The chapter specifically focuses on the case studies of two historic-holy cities, Varanasi and Ayodhya, illustrated with Ramalila s and pilgrimage circuits and associated rituals, to justify the validity of ICH as a resource for development of historical urban landscapes and the shaping of a sustainable heritage city system. Under the mission of two ‘heritage-development’ programmes of HRIDAY and PRASAD, the government of India has already been operating such measures in historic-heritage cities, with strong vision that such heritage-inclusive development would serve as a catalyst for the fulfilment of the global and national strategies of sustainable development of historic urban landscapes in the purview of making them vibrant and liveable centres of global harmony, spiritual awakening, peace and deeper understanding.

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