Iftar included in the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list

The United Nations cultural agency has officially acknowledged Iftar, which refers to the evening meal that Muslims eat to break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, and added it on its list of intangible cultural heritage.

If reports are to go by, the joint proposal for this sociocultural tradition was submitted to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation by Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan.
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According to UNESCO, Iftar, also known as eftari or iftor, is a practice observed by Muslims at sunset throughout the month of Ramadan, following the completion of all religious and ceremonial obligations. This tradition is closely linked to the sunset call to prayer during Ramadan, and is recognised for fostering gatherings that strengthen family and community bonds, while also promoting values such as charity, solidarity, and social exchange.
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, meeting in Botswana since Monday, granted official recognition to this age-old communal practice.

In various Muslim nations, it is customary to commence iftar by consuming a date along with tea, although recipes for dishes and pastries associated with iftar vary widely across countries.

UNESCO emphasized that the transmission of the iftar practice typically occurs within families, with children and youth often taking on the responsibility of preparing components of traditional meals.

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In addition to iftar, Italian opera singing, an art passed down solely through oral means from teacher to pupil, has also been included in UNESCO's list of intangible global heritage. This art form, attracting students globally, received official acknowledgment, with Italy's Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano expressing pride in the confirmation of opera singing as a world excellence.

Originating in Italy, the birthplace of Verdi and Scarlatti, Italian opera holds historical significance, with patriots singing it, and some of the world's most notable arias originating from the peninsula.
UNESCO described Italian opera singing as a physiologically controlled method that enhances the voice's carrying power in acoustic spaces such as amphitheatres and churches.