The Rom Dance is a prominent cultural heritage originating from Ambrym Island in the Vanuatu archipelago. Ole in the Ambrym vernacular language refers to dance performances in which participants wear a rom mask. The rom, which is the mask itself, is a simpler version of the Banks Islands’ tamate mask, but it looks more similar to South Malekula masks.

The current topic of this conference is not very well studied in the Philippines. The word –shamanism- is regarded as an arbitrary umbrella-catch-all term for lack of something better because what it refers to in the Philippines is a far ranging set of practices, belief and value systems that are very specific. It is with some trepidation that these sets of practices, beliefs and value systems may not at all fit into the north-Asian concept of Shamanism, especially with reference to the structure and social organization. The latest local term used is –pagdidiwata – referring to the rituals invoking spiritual beings (diwata). The other terms used\nare bunung, baki, pagaanito, alisig, and many others depending on the culture of the some 80 different major ethno-linguistic groups in the country. Common to all is the belief in the existence of a spirit world to which the world of people should relate, through the medium of ritual specialists. There are differences, however, in the structure and social organization in the social behavior related to ethnic practice.

The paper presents the status of Shamanism practice, in terms of state policy, research status and challenges for the Shaman heritage in Bhutan. The paper is based on field research and policy analysis conducted by the National Library and Archive of Bhutan under a ICHCAP project grant. An overview of shamanism in different regions of Bhutan is presented with a region-wise categorization of Shamanism in Bhutan. This is followed by a brief overview of four shamanism practices prevalent in Bhutan, three in the southern region and one in the western region. The preliminary data show that the Shamanistic practices in Bhutan, as in other parts of the world, has been deeply rooted in religion and supernatural power. The paper also presents future plans and initiatives of the National Library and Archives Division for the documentation and preservation of Shaman heritage. In absence of any written state policy regarding the preservation and promotion of Shaman heritage, the study concludes by proposing some recommendations to the government and local stakeholders for the preservation and promotion of the practice.

This ancient theatre form created by Malaysia’s Malay communities combines acting, vocal and instrumental music, gestures and elaborate costumes. Specific to the villages of Kelantan in northwest Malaysia, where the tradition originated, Mak Yong is performed mainly as entertainment or for ritual purposes related to healing practices.

"Leonese wrestling, aluches or luches, is a traditional wrestling style practiced in the province of León (Autonomous Community of Castile and León, Spain). With an area of 6,016 square miles (15,581 km2) and a population of around 460,000, León is located in the northwest interior of the country and has a great diversity of landscapes. This includes the Cantabrian Mountains, the Galician Massif, the lowland of El Bierzo, and a plateau or Meseta Central. It was part of the Kingdom of León (910–1230), where in 1188 the first parliamentary system in Europe was established (UNESCO, 2013). Two main, historical paths cross the province, the Ruta de la Plata (Silver Way), from north to south, and the Camino de Santiago – Camino Francés (Way of St. James – French Way), from east to west. These pilgrimage and trade routes were important elements for the transmission of cultural practices, ideas, or artifacts, from which Leonese culture benefited.\nLeonese wrestling, in particular, is rooted in the northeast of the province. It includes two mountainous areas (Central Mountain and Eastern Mountain, both part of the Cantabrian Mountains) and the adjacent flat lands, comprising several districts and the provincial capital—the city of León. In total, this represents approximately 35% of the territory of the province. However, only two zones are mentioned with regard to Leonese wrestling: Montaña (Mountain), which includes all the territory to the north of the León–Bilbao railroad, and Ribera (Bank), to the south of said railroad. Traditionally, bouts between the most prominent Montaña and Rivera wrestlers were followed by the"

The ICH of Laos is vibrant despite the instability experienced by the country’s populace throughout the twentieth century. Peace returned to the country in 1976 once the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) was established on 2 December 1975. However, a large proportion of the population relocated to other countries, including many custodians and practitioners of ICH, not only those of the Lao ethnic group but also other ethnicities such as Hmong. The relocation of these masters or knowledgeable persons led to a break in the transmission of this wisdom to younger generations. Over time the restrictions mentioned above were lifted, allowing for the revival of various ICH elements. Memory served as a reservoir of knowledge for ICH traditions whose practice and transmission had ceased temporarily. The masters of some elements are no longer present in Laos to transmit the wisdom of techniques, symbolism, and use. Memory is thus crucial since this knowledge is not recorded in books, but rather is passed on via oral instruction.

List of ICH Festivals applied for the Silk Roads Living Heritage Network Membership

Khamir was established on 2005 out of a joint initiative of Kutch Nav Nirmaan Abhiyan (KNNA) and Nehru Foundation for Development (NFD) to empower Kutch’s creative industry after a devastating earthquake in 2001. Khamir was originally developed to support craft industries where livelihoods were particularly affected. They also wanted to ensure the sustainability of the necessary resources for growth of handicraft industries. Today, it serves as a platform for promotion of traditional handicrafts and allied cultural practices, the processes involved in their creation, and preservation of culture, community and local environments.

ICCN, Interurban Cooperation Network for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, is an international organization of local governments and cultural institutions which includes 31 states, 29 cities and 34 associations. Its main objective is the protection of the intangible cultural heritage around the world and the promotion of sustainable local development. Moreover, it also seeks to achieve cultural peace through mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue between the different populations that are part of it. Julio Nacher shared some good examples of cultural events that successfully held in pandemic situation.

In 1942 (Myanmar Era -1305),, a musician from Hsipaw founded the Shan traditional musical troupe in Namhkaik village. He taught singing, dancing and playing musical instruments during the 3 months of Buddhist Lent. One of his descendents is Shew Cherry Theatrical Performance Troupe which is renown today. This troupe gives performance in charity events and monk funeral ceremonies.