Turkish paper marbling included on UNESCO cultural list

Art of 'Ebru' is the 12th cultural specialty from Turkey to be listed by UNESCO. Turkish paper marbling, known as Ebru in the Turkish language, has been added to United Nations' list of the world's cultural heritage. Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik said Turkey applied to UNESCO for this art to be included in the cultural heritage list in March of last year. "With the art of Ebru, the number of the elements that represent Turkey on the list has reached 12," Çelik told The Anadolu Agency. Turkey's application file was among the first five out of 46 others.

The minister thanked those who contributed to this success. Ebru is an art of creating colourful patterns by sprinkling and brushing colour pigments onto a pan of oily water and then transferring the patterns to paper or fabric. Lavash, a flatbread submitted by Armenia, was also inscribed on UNESCO's cultural heritage. The minister said Armenia aimed to make lavash popular across the world as an Armenian cultural specialty. Lavash is consumed in countries like Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Çelik said lavash is a shared culture in the region, and said Armenia was not the only owner of this bread. Last year, Turkish Coffee Culture and Tradition was added to the heritage list including ten other cultural specialties:

Arts of the Meddah, a Turkish story telling art
Mevlevi Sema Ceremony, whirling dervishes
Aşıklık Minstrelsy Tradition
Karagöz and Hacivat Shadow Theater
Nevruz Spring Festival
Traditional Conversation Meetings
Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival
Sema ceremony, of whirling dervishes
Alevi Bektashi Ritual, a set of mystical and aesthetic body movements with musical rhythm and lyrics
Ceremonial Keşkek Tradition, a traditional dish
Mesir Paste Festival, a festival with various traditional practices that has been celebrated for more than 470 years