(KPL) Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket received in Paris, France, a UNESCO certificate of the inscription of the traditional craft of Naga motif weaving in Lao communities on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Feb 28. 

The Minister received the certificate from UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone Ramirez at UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Paris.

In December last year, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage approved at its 18th general meeting Laos’ traditional Naga motif weaving as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Kazan, Botswana.

Women across the Lao PDR weave Naga designs onto their traditional skirts for protection and strength. The Naga is a mythical, serpent-like creature that lives in rivers. Lao people believe that Naga are ancestors that watch over them. To show their respect, they add Naga motifs to different objects, the most common of which is textiles through weaving.

Naga motifs are woven by hand using a traditional wooden loom. The motif is created during the weaving process. It is neither embroidered nor printed. 

The patterns can be woven in silk, silk organza and cotton, and traditionally the Naga’s body is woven in white or a solid colour, with bright colours used for the crest to symbolize the creature’s supernatural powers. The centuries-old practice is transmitted informally within families, and in vocational centres, cultural centres and universities. 

Textiles with the Naga design are used throughout a person’s life.

KPL