The Committee
- Takes note that Tajikistan has nominated the Culture of Sumanak/Sumalak cooking (No. 02336) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
Sumanak is a special dish traditionally prepared during the Navruz festival. It is made from sprouted wheat, butter and flour, symbolizing the awakening of nature and rebirth. The wheat sprouts, called ‘sabza’, represent new life in spring. The process involves washing, roasting and crushing the wheat, and then boiling the juice for up to ten hours. There are several types of sumanak, each with slight variations in terms of their preparation. The making of sumanak is a communal activity, usually carried out by a group of women who take turns stirring the pot while singing traditional songs and dancing.
- Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
R.1: Men help prepare sumanak by lighting the fire and carrying heavy items. The dish is cooked in large cauldrons and is shared with many people. The knowledge and skills related to sumanak are passed down within families and through schools and cultural events. People also share recipes and recordings online, keeping the tradition alive. For the practising communities, sumanak is associated with celebration, unity, good fortune and prosperity. As a vitamin- and nutrient-rich dish, it contributes to good health and well-being, especially for children and pregnant women. By bringing people together to prepare and share the dish, sumanak also strengthens social bonds and fosters inclusion.
R.3: The safeguarding measures are well elaborated, appropriate and demonstrate a clear commitment from both communities and authorities. They focus on the transmission, documentation, awareness and celebration of the element. The State has played a central role in establishing legal and technical frameworks for the protection and promotion of the element, in order to ensure it remains viable and sustainable.
R.4: The nomination process was initiated by the State, which established a working group to develop the nomination file, consisting of experts from relevant ministries and agencies, as well as individuals and representatives of the communities concerned. The group met on several occasions and carried out visits and fieldwork in selected towns and villages. Meetings with women's and girls' groups were also held. Specialists in local culture also provided support for the nomination. The consent of individuals and groups is documented through audiovisual and written formats.
R.5: The element was included in the National Inventory List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013. The inventory is managed and updated every three years by the Institute for Culture and Information Research, with active involvement from diverse stakeholders, including public organizations, non-governmental organizations, State and non-State media, humanities scholars, and individual artisans.
- Further considers that, from the information included in the file and the information provided by the submitting State Party through the dialogue process, the nomination satisfies the following criterion for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
R.2: The nomination file describes how the element contributes to sustainable development and how its inscription would enhance the awareness of the significance of intangible cultural heritage, encouraging dialogue that respects cultural diversity and promoting human creativity. The file clearly highlights that the element contributes to sustainable development requirements in relation to non-industrial agriculture as a symbolic, seasonal and inclusive culinary tradition that embodies shared heritage, health values, gender cooperation and intergenerational transmission.
- Decides to inscribe Culture of Sumanak/Sumalak cooking on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.