Har Har Mahadev! Greetings Kashi. Greetings Tamil Nadu!

Those who are coming from Tamilnadu, I request them to use their earphones for the first time using AI Technology.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath ji present on the stage, my Cabinet colleagues, scholars from Kashi and Tamil Nadu, my brothers and sisters who have come to Kashi from Tamil Nadu, all other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen! All of you have come to Kashi in such large numbers after travelling hundreds of kilometers. You all have come to Kashi more as my family members than as guests. I welcome you all to the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam.

My family members,

Coming to Kashi from Tamil Nadu means coming from one house of Mahadev to his other house! Coming to Kashi from Tamil Nadu means coming from Madurai Meenakshi to Kashi Vishalakshi. That is why the love and bond that exists between the people of Tamil Nadu and the people of Kashi in their hearts is different and unique. I am sure, the people of Kashi will be leaving no stone unturned in serving you all. When you leave this place, besides the blessings of Baba Vishwanath, you will also take with you the taste of Kashi, the culture of Kashi and the memories of Kashi. Today, a new use of technology has also taken place here through Artificial Intelligence. This is a new beginning and hopefully it has made it easier for you to understand my words. 

Is it ok? The friends of Tamilnadu, is it ok? Are you enjoying it? So this was my first experience. In the future, I will use it. You will have to give me the response. Now as usual I speak in Hindi; he will help me to interpret in Tamil.  

My family members,

Today, Kanyakumari-Varanasi Tamil Sangamam train has been flagged off from here. I have also had the privilege of releasing translations of Thirukurral, Manimekalai and many Tamil texts into different languages. Subramania Bharati ji, who was once a student of Kashi, had written – “काशी नगर पुलवर पेसुम उरैताम् कान्चियिल केट्पदर्कु ओर करुवि सेय्वोम्” He wanted to say that it would be wonderful if arrangements were made so that people from Tamil Nadu's Kanchi city could hear the mantras being chanted in Kashi. Today Subramania Bharati ji's wish is getting fulfilled. The voice of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam is reaching all over the country and the whole world. I congratulate all the concerned ministries, the Government of UP and all the people of Tamil Nadu for organizing this event.

My family members,

Since the beginning of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam last year, lakhs of people are joining this yatra day by day. Religious leaders of various mutts, students, many artists, litterateurs, craftsmen, professionals, people from many fields have got an effective platform for mutual interaction and communication through this Sangamam. I am glad that Banaras Hindu University and IIT Madras have also come together to make this Sangamam a success. IIT Madras has started Vidyashakti initiative to provide online support in Science and Maths to thousands of students of Banaras. Several initiatives taken within a year are proof that the relations between Kashi and Tamil Nadu are both emotional and creative.

My family members,

‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ is one such eternal stream which is continuously strengthening the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’. With the same thinking, Ganga-Pushkaralu Utsav, i.e. Kashi-Telugu Sangamam, was also organized in Kashi some time back. We had also successfully organized Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam in Gujarat. Our Raj Bhavans have also taken brilliant initiatives for ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’. Now foundation day of other states are celebrated with great pomp in Raj Bhavans; special events are organized by inviting people from other states. This spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ was also visible when we entered the new Parliament building. The sacred Sengol has been installed in the new Parliament building. Under the guidance of the sages of Adheenam, this same Sengol became the symbol of transfer of power in 1947. It is this flow of the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, which is watering the soul of our nation today.

My family members,

We Indians, despite being one, are full of diversity in dialects, languages, clothes, food, lifestyle. This diversity of Bharat is rooted in that spiritual consciousness, for which it is said in Tamil – 'नीरेल्लाम् गङ्गै, निलमेल्लाम् कासी'. This sentence is from the great Pandya king ‘Parakram Pandiyan’. Its meaning is – all water is Ganga water, every piece of land in Bharat is Kashi.

When our spiritual centres, and Kashi, were being attacked by invaders from the north, King Parakram Pandiyan built temples in Tenkasi and Sivakasi saying that Kashi cannot be destroyed. If you look at any civilization in the world, you will hardly find such a simple and noble form of diversity in spirituality anywhere! Even recently, during the G-20 Summit, the world was amazed to see this diversity of Bharat. 

My family members,

In other countries of the world, a nation has a political definition, but Bharat as a nation is made up of spiritual beliefs. Bharat has been united by sages like Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya, who awakened the national consciousness of Bharat through their travels. Adheenam sages from Tamil Nadu have also been travelling to Shaiva places like Kashi for centuries. Kumaragurupara had established mutts and temples in Kashi. Tirupanandal Adheenam is so attached to this place that even today 'Kashi' is added to its name. Similarly, Tamil spiritual literature about 'Paadal Petra Sthalam' says that a person who does this, travels from Kedar or Thirukedharam to Tirunelveli. Through these journeys and pilgrimages, Bharat has remained steadfast and eternal as a nation for thousands of years.

I am glad that through Kashi Tamil Sangamam, enthusiasm for this ancient tradition has increased among the youth of the country. A large number of people and youngsters from Tamil Nadu are coming to Kashi. From here we are also going to Prayag, Ayodhya and other pilgrimages. I have been told that special arrangements have also been made for Ayodhya darshan for the people coming to Kashi-Tamil Sangamam. It's great luck to get the darshan of both Mahadev as well as Lord Rama who had laid the foundation of Rameshwaram.

My family members,

It is said -

जानें बिनु न होइ परतीती। बिनु परतीति होइ नहि प्रीती॥

That is, knowledge increases trust, and trust increases love. Therefore, it is important to learn about each other, about each other's traditions, and our common heritage. We have the example of Kashi and Madurai in the north and south. Both are great temple cities. Both are great pilgrimage sites. Madurai is situated on the banks of Vaigai and Kashi is situated on the banks of Ganga. Tamil literature talks about both Vaigai and Ganga. When we learn about this heritage, we also realize the depth of our relationships.

My family members,

I am confident that this confluence of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam will continue to strengthen our heritage and strengthen the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'. I end my speech by wishing you all a pleasant stay in Kashi and at the same time, I heartily thank the renowned singer Shriram from Tamil Nadu for coming to Kashi and making us all emotional. I congratulate him. And the people of Kashi were also witnessing the strength of our unity in the devotion with which they were listening to Tamil singer Shriram. I once again extend my best wishes for this continuous journey of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam. And thank you all very much!

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

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DS/VJ/IG/AK