NEW DELHI: The Bengal Story Bureau: The world marks World Heritage Day today with a renewed focus on shielding historic monuments and living traditions from conflicts and natural disasters. India, home to over 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites including West Bengal’s Santiniketan, joined the global observance to highlight the vulnerability of cultural assets.
Established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Day for Monuments and Sites is celebrated annually on April 18. This year, the international community is driving awareness around emergency preparedness for heritage sites facing severe modern threats.
Emergency Response for 2026
The 2026 theme, “Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters”, underscores the growing risks to global architecture. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) proposed the original concept for the day, which focuses this year on building resilience for both physical sites and intangible traditions during global crises.
Heritage conservationists and authorities are using the occasion to organise public visits to monuments, educational conferences, and photo exhibitions. The primary goal is to educate citizens about the urgent need for structural and cultural protection.
India’s Glorious Traditions
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla extended his greetings on the occasion, noting that India has always been a custodian of architectural marvels. In a public statement, Birla said the country’s diverse historical treasures reflect its glorious traditions and require sustained conservation efforts.
India currently boasts 42 UNESCO-recognised sites across the country. In West Bengal, recent additions like Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan share the prestigious list with the Sundarbans National Park and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. These local landmarks connect regional history to the broader global push for heritage preservation.