In which year was the Buddhist chanting of Ladakh inscribed on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?

The correct answer is 2012. UNESCO inscribed "Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India" on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012. Since 2019, Ladakh has been a separate Union Territory.

In the monasteries and villages of Ladakh, Buddhist lamas (monks) chant sacred texts to bring about the spiritual and moral well-being of the people, to purify their minds and to bring peace to the world. The chanting is performed on important occasions in the Buddhist calendar, such as festivals and rituals, and at important events in people's lives, such as births, weddings and deaths. It follows the traditions of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug. The monks chant in groups, often in deep, resonant voices, and they are accompanied by instruments such as drums, cymbals, bells and long horns. The chants are accompanied by hand gestures called mudras, which represent the divine Buddha. The chanting is learnt through years of training in the monasteries, under the guidance of senior monks. Major monasteries of Ladakh where these traditions are kept alive include Hemis, Thiksey, Alchi, Lamayuru and Diskit.

About the other options:

• 2008 is the year when the Tradition of Vedic Chanting, Kutiyattam and Ramlila were incorporated into the list.
• 2010 is the year when Chhau, Mudiyettu and Kalbelia were inscribed.
• 2016 is the year when Yoga was inscribed.
• Ladakh's culture is also known for the Hemis festival, which celebrates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava with Cham masked dances, and for traditional dances such as Shondol (the royal dance), Spao and Jabro.