National Museum Institute Monday said it has started work on documenting age-old "human treasures" in the fields of performing and fine arts from across the country.
The institute has started pilot projects from the plains of western Uttar Pradesh and mountains of Ladakh.
"We have started listing the intangible cultural heritage of these two regions. They will be the models for other such studies," director general of National Museum Venu V said in a statement.
The institute organised a community-led event at Sikhera village near Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and Gya, in Ladakh, on the highest plateau in Jammu and Kashmir to mark the beginning of the project.
The events in both places were held on Oct 17, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of signing of Unesco's Paris convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, the statement said.