DHAKA: The traditions of making North Korean kimchi and Arabic coffee are among 20 practices newly recognized by Unesco, the UN’s cultural agency.

Other customs that made the cut include classical horsemanship in Austria, folk dances in Peru and Romania and a Namibian fruit festival.

Unesco announced the new additions to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list on Wednesday, the BBC publishes this report on Thursday.

International delegates are meeting in Windhoek in Namibia.

North Korean kimchi joins its southern counterpart which is already on the list. Unesco paid tribute to the practice of making of the pickled cabbage dish, saying that it contributes to social cohesion.

Making and serving coffee in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar is meanwhile considered ‘a ceremonial act of generosity’.

The traditions of the classical horsemanship at the Spanish Riding School Vienna ensure communities in the school have a ‘strong sense of identity’.

BDST: 1510 HRS, DEC 03, 2015
RR