Among the Newa community, Tamrakars are one of such communities, who follow Buddhism. Gunla is one of many festivals celebrated in Kathmandu valley. It is the tenth month in Nepal Sambat lunar calendar, in which devotees from all around Kathmandu valley visit Swayambhu Stupa that is also one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The festival of Gunla last for one whole month. In addition to this, devotees also take a visit to different Buddhist courtyards called Baha-bahi and other stupas and chaityas. The devotees in the process recite Holy Scriptures and play devotional gunla music. Music groups from different communities take part in the procession. Like other numerous communities, Tamrakar community also has the musical group named “Tamrakar Gunla Baajan Khala” who have been taking part in playing gunla music and reciting Holy Scriptures from time immemorial.

The Rai communities of the eastern hills of Nepal celebrate the Siruwat festival during April and May, on the Nepali first full moon day of the year. Siruwat is celebrated to mark the season of plantation, also called dhule puja, which means worshiping the earth or soil. It is believed that the deities travel to the Himalayas after they are worshiped to avoid the summer. The festival is also called Ubhauli, referring to deities’ movement towards the upper hills/Himalayas. Every Rai household practices this ritual. Deities are offered eggs, alcohol, chicken, water, and freshly harvested rice. There is a belief that if people do not perform this ritual, they will get sick and go mad. Therefore, even people who live far away or are traveling make efforts to return to their village to perform this ritual.

Mr. Keum Gi Hyung had been working as the Director-General of ICHCAP since January 2019 until December 2021. Before joining ICHCAP, he served as the Director-General of Tourism Policy Bureau from 2017 to 2018 and Public Communication Policy Bureau from 2016 to 2017 at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea. He also served as the Director of Korean Cultural Center in Vietnam from 2009 to 2012. He also worked as a Senior Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Bangkok Office from 2005 to 2007. His academic background is in media and communication with Master's degree in University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Jyldyz Doolbekova is an anthropologist, researcher, and consultant with a background in traditional ecological knowledge, place-based education, and local development to support and preserve the biocultural diversity and the well-being of mountain local communities in Kyrgyzstan. \n\nShe participated in the research within the project "Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Contribution to SDGs - Community Education and Development" initiated and supported by International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asia-Pacific (IRCI, https://www.irci.jp/). The results of the study entitled "Visionary Local Communities in Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage in Kyrgyzstan" (2020), and "The Evolving Role of Community Museums in Intangible Cultural Heritage Preservation: A Case Study from Kyrgyzstan" (2021) were presented at the International Symposium in Tokyo (online).\n\nShe has 15 years of experience with the Christensen Fund Central Asia Program (California, San Francisco) as a Special Advisor, Program Manager, and Regional Coordinator. Before joining The Christensen Fund, she was the University Projects Officer for the Aga Khan Humanities Project (AKHP), based at project headquarters in Dushanbe (Tajikistan), where she developed and implemented programs in conjunction with Central Asian universities to promote pluralism in ideas, cultures, and people through innovative humanities curricula rooted in traditional arts and knowledge. \n\nShe received a Ph.D. in anthropology, ethnology, and ethnography with a thesis on "Traditional ecological culture of the Kyrgyz (on the example of the Murghab Kyrgyz in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries)" at the Institute of Cultural Heritage of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic; received the equivalent of her MA from Kyrgyz National University Department of History and also earned a Master’s in International Relations from the International University of Kyrgyzstan. \n\n

Public Fund "Rural Development Fund" (RDF) is a non-profit non-governmental research organization, registered in November 2003.\n\nThe main activity of the RDF is to conduct applied research on various aspects of rural development, and the implementation of projects in the field of rural development and sustainable management of natural complexes that contribute to the development of policy and the decision making at the local and national level, the evaluation of ongoing projects and the development of recommendations to improve their effectiveness.\n\nThe RDF provides interactive adult education tailored to the needs and background of the rural population. The RDF is also involved in various exchange visits, facilitation and organization of international and national conferences, seminars and working group meetings.\n\nRDF has unique experience in conducting the research on pastoral traditional knowledge funded by the Christensen Fund, USA. They carried out the traditional knowledge research with the involvement of local researchers, which was very successful. RDF also conducted a study for the World Bank on traditional natural resource management and existing conflicts over natural resources.\n

China Folklore Society (CFS) has 2,256 registered members across the country. In June 2012, the CFS was accredited and now provides advisory services to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding ICH. In November of 2014, the CFS was appointed as member of Evaluation Body by the Committee.

Also known as Bangsawan Opera, it is a type ofntraditional Malay opera or theatre.

Bharata Natyam is a type of Indian Classical Dance which combines elements of Britta (pure dance) and Nritya (dance expression). It takes many years to master the movements of hand gestures, legs and eyes. This dance originated from Tamil Nadu in the Southern part of India. Traditionally, this dance is presented by a solo female dancer, but is more commonly performed by a group of dancers these days. A full presentation of the dance shall consist of six stages: Alarippu, Jatiswaram, Sabdam, Varnam, Padam and Lerevela. Bharata Natyam is one of the oldest dances known to the Hindu society and it was choreographed based on Hindu religious elements and stories from ancient Sanskrit writings of Natyashastra. Dancers imitates the movements of flame to express the mystical manifestions of fire element in human body—a combination of the feminine and masculine elements.

Assyk games have been almost the most popular types of games among the nomadic Kazakhs since ancient times. Assyk is the talus bone of a sheep or a goat. Assyk atu is the oldest game of the peoples of Eurasia, as confirmed by archaeological data. Astragalus-Assykians were found in southern Kazakhstan, in the burial place of Borizhari, dating from between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. Assyks were painted, drilled from the inside, and filled with lead, which gave them weight, and allowed players to be more accurate. Boys between 5 and 15 years old have typically been the main players. Assyk games include demon taban, alsha, and cantalapai. While there are many variants of the game, the essence is basically the same—knocking out the main assyk of opponents.

Korkyt-ata invented kobyz, a two-stringed instrument covered in goat leather, and wrote many kyus (songs), eleven of which have survived to this day. His dedication to the instrument is why the Mausoleum of Korkyt-ata on the banks of the Syr Darya River was made in the form of a giant kobyz. The traditional kobyz manufacturing process is based on a master-apprentice system through which the master transmits his knowledge and skills through formal (educational institutions) and informal communication (at home, in the family).

Youth Meets ICH is video clips on ICH produced by six Asia-Pacific institutions with youth participation.

ICHCAP, in collaboration with UNESCO Bangkok Office, held the Intangible Cultural Heritage Webinar Series from June to August 2020 with a total of four sessions. The 23 speakers from 18 countries met with the public to grapple with alternative practices and emergent modes of delivery in various areas such as heritage education in the universities, networking amongst educational institutions for ICH safeguarding, development of ICH curricula in times of crisis, as well as inter-regional cooperation for cross-cultural instruction and learning.\n\nWhile the entire world is struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19, the ICH sector also has been hit hard by numerous public health measures such as the cancellation of major festivals and events, temporary shutdown of museums, and places of cultural activities, as well as the indefinite halting of formal and informal heritage transmission activities. How can ICH safeguarding and transmission thrive in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, and what role can higher education institutions play to ensure the viability of living heritage in our times? ICHCAP organized this webinar series to answer these urgent questions that we all face today.\n\nThe third session on 30 July 2020 was an opportunity for the participants, both the invited speakers and the audience, to have a better understanding of networking efforts amongst universities in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. This session, in particular, was a clearer call for inter-regional support and cooperation to push for cross-cultural demonstration of heritage education.\n\nPresentation1 Network of Higher Education Institutions for ICH Safeguarding in Europe by Dr. Cristina Ortega Nuere, Professor, University Oberta of Catalunya\nPresentation2 Network of Higher Education Institutions for ICH Safeguarding in Southern Africa by Dr. Jacob Mapara, Acting Director, Institute of Lifelong Learning and Development\nStudies, Chinhoyi University of Technology\nPresentation3 ReCAPCILAC: A Co-Construction Experience for ICH Safeguarding by Prof. Mónica Guariglio, National University of Avellaneda – UNDAV (Argentina)\nPresentation4 Network of Higher Education Institutions for Heritage Management and ICH Safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific by Injee Kim, Culture Programme Officer, UNESCO Bangkok Office

Paglami-lamihan Soundscapes 1: Music by National Living Treasure Uwang Ahadas and the Ahadas Family Ensemble  Performed on the eve of the wedding when the pangantin, either the groom (pangantin lella) or bride (pangantin dende), is fetched from his or her house and brought to the groom or bride’s house where the ceremony will be held. The groom or bride will then leave his/her house and spend the night at a relative’s house. This will be performed again the next morning when it is time to fetch the groom or bride from the relative’s house. Played solo using two agung (lagnaan and laboan).  Performed by Uwang Ahadas on agung (lagnaan and laboan)

Paglami-lamihan Soundscapes 1: Music by National Living Treasure Uwang Ahadas and the Ahadas Family Ensemble  Traditionally played on the eve of the wedding to entertain guests as well as to accompany the pamansak and tumahik (war dance) performances.  Performed by Uwang Ahadas (kwintangan tumbaga), Nursima Ahadas (gandang), Sanira Ahadas (agung), anad Halim Ahadas (sulanting)

CD7_MUSIC OF BASTAR AND CHHATISGARH\n\nThe indigenous tribal communities of India belong to various language families. This selection of music comes from the region of what was known as Bastar and its surroundings but is today divided into the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. \n\nThis album presents some samples of the music of the Maria, Muria, and Pardhans. These subgroups are part of the larger Gond family. Gondi and the related languages belong to the Dravidian family. It provides a glimpse into the intangible cultural heritage of the tribes of Central India. \n\nThese recordings were made between 1978 and 1982 by ethnomusicologist Roderic Knight. They provide a glimpse into the tribal communities, which are fast changing.

CD4_FOLK MELODIES OF NEPAL\n\nIt has been estimated that Nepal's repertoire of folk melodies once numbered more than sixty thousand. The country’s landscape features rivers, hills, mountains, plains, and streams, as well as an extremely rich flora and fauna, which have all inspired Nepal's folk musicians. In the past, communities were more isolated from one another due to the difficult terrain and the lack of roads and transport. Thus, every small village developed its own melodies. For example, it is said that the call of the bharedwaja bird inspired at least 128 different rhythms.

Pagdaloy, Flow of Life \n(2015 NCCA-ICHCAP Digitization Project of ICH-related Analogue Audiovisual Materials)\n\nThe National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines (NCCA) is the official government agency for culture in the Philippines. It is the overall policy making body, coordinating, and grants giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture.\n\nIn 2015, ICHCAP supported the NCCA in digitizing around five hundred hours of analogue content through the Digitization Project of ICH-related Analogue Audiovisual Materials. Some of materials representative of traditions of Philippine ethnic groups were chosen and reproduced as Pagdaloy, flow of life in eight DVDs and two CDs, so they can be enjoyed by more people.\n\nThe videos contained in the collection come from Travel Time, a weekly travelogue that aired from 1986 to 2015 in the Philippines. The TV travel show provided detailed information about minority groups in the country. The NCCA, the project operator, was not only engaged in the digitization of analogue materials but also provided support throughout the production process, contributing to giving more people the opportunity to access valuable ICH materials.\n\nICHCAP Collection IV includes stories of eight Philippine ethnic groups in the Philippines. The story collection comes in a book format, with the DVDs depicting each of the stories. The two CDs feature music used for rituals, feasts, and farming. The collection also features music played by Uwang Ahadas and his family ensemble; Ahadas was named a National Living Treasure of the Philippines. The last page of the collection features a map indicating the areas the ethnic groups inhabit, to help audiences better understand the ethnic groups.\n\nICHCAP hopes that this collection will enable not just researchers in the relevant fields but also the general public to learn more about and become familiar with Philippine ICH.

The Spirit of Vietnam in Song\n(2013-2014 VIM-ICHCAP Restoration and Digitization Project)\n\nIn 2015, ICHCAP and the Vietnam Institute of Musicology (VIM) jointly produced Cultural Sounds: The Spirit of Vietnam, a nine-CD set to promote public awareness about the Vietnamese ICH.\n\nIn 2013, the VIM had conducted a year-long joint project with ICHCAP to restore and digitize its analogue audio documentation of ICH. The project resulted in the successful digitization of some three hundred magnetic tapes in the VIM’s collection. This CD collection was produced to distribute the outcomes of the project while raising the visibility of the audio resources. Local researchers thematically selected the eighty-seven tracks in the collection. Information on each track is presented in Vietnamese, English and Korean.\n\nThis project is significant as it resulted in restoring analogue recordings at risk of permanent damage and digitizing them to enhance their academic value and public visibility.

This brochure introduces 14 intangible cultural heritage elements of Timor-Leste. \n\nThe publication is a result of a cooperative project between the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO and ICHCAP.

Resilience makes communities stronger and more sustainable. This volume’s cover stories are about how ICH safeguarding activities in Nepal, India, and Thailand can restore communities. Each story demonstrates the potential power of ICH.