Leveraging Informatics to Conserve Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ayodhya: A Study of Life Events of Lord Rama

Abstract

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is defined by UNESCO as the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts, and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups, and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. ICH is transmitted from generation to generation and is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature, and their history, and it provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity. According to the UNESCO ICH Convention the intangible cultural heritage, or living heritage, is the mainspring of our cultural diversity, and its maintenance is a guarantee for continuing creativity that is part of a network and interlinking system. The Hindu pilgrimage city Ayodhya is full of intangible cultural heritage and records several festivities and celebrations related to the life events of Lord Rama. Pilgrimage journey based on the life journey of Rama, Ramalila (Rama life story through play), Ramajanmotsava (‘birthday celebration of Rama’), and Ramavivaha (‘marriage celebration of Rama’) are important festivals and celebrations of Ayodhya based on art, culture, and aesthetic sense of intangible cultural heritage. The study explores how Informatics can be harnessed to conserve the ICH of Ayodhya and disseminate knowledge on it to people beyond time and space.