On Monday, November 13, 2023, following Article 12 of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO and Article 3 of the Statute of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Iran, in the session of the National Council for the Inscription of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the file "Traditional Astronomy in Iran" which was prepared and proposed by Mana Naqsh Art & Culture Institute, was inscribed on Iran's national ICH inventory. Shahab Nikman, the managing director of Mana Naqsh, attended the session to present and defend the file, on behalf of the collaborators, Ehsan Khazeni, Parvin Dalvand, and Shahab Nikman.
Astronomy is the observation and recognition of stars, planets, constellations, and various astrological signs and recording dates and times, and from the main affairs of human life such as migration, agriculture, architecture, navigation, and seamanship to astrology and compilation of various calendars, it has formed the basis of human individual and social life.
This ICH element, which is inscribed of national scope, is manifested in four of the five domains of intangible cultural heritage domains, including "oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage", "social practices, rituals, and festive events", "knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe", and "traditional craftsmanship".