(Bangkok, 15th) — During a meeting of the Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Heritage, Minister of Culture, Petsontan, announced that Thailand plans to propose to UNESCO by March 2026 for the 'Grand Shadow Puppet Show' to be listed under the category of 'Well-Preserved Projects, Programs, and Activities.'
It is understood that currently, only three communities in Thailand continue the tradition of the 'Grand Shadow Puppet Show', namely Wat Hua Nam in Ratchaburi Province, Ban Dong Temple in Rayong Province, and Sawang Arom Temple in Sing Buri Province. The Grand Shadow Puppet Show is crafted by carving cowhide or buffalo hide, has been passed down since the 15th century, and uses light projected onto a screen to perform the story of the Ramayana. This heritage application aims to highlight its value at local, national, and international levels.
The meeting also heard updates on the planned applications for 'Thai Traditional Clothing' and the 'Loy Krathong Festival' to be recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2026.
On another note, Thailand will join hands with the Philippines and ASEAN countries to jointly promote 'barley rice' as a shared heritage, which is currently in the data collection phase, with the full application expected to be submitted in 2026.
In addition, Thailand announced the addition of 10 items to its national intangible cultural heritage list, including 'Phleng Song Krueng' (Grand Attire Song), 'Ko So Textile' (Pha Ko So), and the 'March Phra That Phanom Pagoda Pilgrimage Festival', among others.