In News:

At the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Lucknow was officially inducted into the UCCN under the Gastronomy category, recognising its historic culinary heritage—especially Awadhi cuisine.

Cultural Basis of Selection

The nomination emphasised:

• Classical Awadhi dishes: galouti kebab, nihari-kulcha, tokri chaat, puri-kachori.
• Renowned desserts: malai gilori, makhan malai.
• The city’s unique Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, reflecting harmonious Hindu-Muslim cultural fusion.

Significance of the Recognition

• Enhances international visibility of Lucknow’s culinary heritage.
• Supports sustainable tourism and preservation of traditional recipes.
• Boosts local livelihoods of chefs, artisans, and food entrepreneurs.
• Strengthens India’s soft-power diplomacy using culture and cuisine.

About UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), established in 2004, aims to promote cooperation among cities that identify creativity and cultural industries as drivers of sustainable urban development. The network strengthens cultural diversity and enhances resilience to global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and rapid urbanisation.

UCCN currently includes 350+ cities worldwide, classified into seven creative fields:

• Crafts & Folk Arts
• Media Arts
• Film
• Design
• Gastronomy
• Literature
• Music

Objectives of UCCN

• Mainstream creativity as a strategic component of urban planning and development.
• Foster public-private-civil society partnerships in cultural sectors.
• Promote innovation hubs and expand opportunities for artists, professionals, and cultural enterprises.
• Support cities in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Agenda through culture-led growth.

India and the UCCN

Before 2025, India had eight member cities. With Lucknow’s addition, the total now stands at nine.

Indian Cities in UCCN