Reweaving an Ancient Bond: What is Kashi Tamil Sangamam?

Source: Kashi Tamil Sangamam website

Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a celebration of a relationship that has lived in the Indian imagination for centuries. For countless pilgrims, scholars and seekers, the journey between Tamil Nadu and Kashi was never just a physical passage—it was a movement of ideas, philosophies, languages and living traditions. The Sangamam draws from this spirit, bringing alive a bond that has quietly shaped India’s cultural landscape for generations.

Launched in 2022, during the nationwide observance of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav—when India was reflecting on 75 years of its independence and rediscovering the depth of its civilisational heritage—the Sangamam emerged as a purposeful effort to reaffirm the cultural continuity that binds the country. In that spirit of looking inward and celebrating India’s timeless strengths, Kashi Tamil Sangamam provided a national platform to spotlight an ancient connect that has guided spiritual thought, artistic expression and scholarly exchange for centuries.

The initiative embodies the essence of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, encouraging people to understand and appreciate the richness of cultures beyond their own. Anchored by the Ministry of Education, with IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University serving as the principal knowledge partners, and participation of ten ministries including Railways, Culture, Tourism, Textiles and Youth Affairs & Sports, and UP Government, Kashi Tamil Sangamam brings together students, artisans, scholars, spiritual leaders, teachers and cultural practitioners of the two regions together, facilitating exchange of ideas, cultural practices  and traditional knowledge between them.  Each edition of the Sangamam involved students, teachers, artisans, scholars, spiritual leaders, and cultural practitioners from Tamil Nadu visiting Kashi for a week to ten days, during which they visited temples of Kashi, all centres having Tamil linkages and neighbouring areas like Ayodhya and Prayagraj. They participated in seminars, talks, cultural programmes, sporting events and exhibitions in which they interacted with their Kashi counterparts.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0: ‘Tamil Karkalam’ – Let Us Learn Tamil

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 marks the next chapter in this growing cultural confluence, expanding both its scale and ambition. Scheduled to begin on 2^ndDecember 2025, this edition retains the essence of the earlier Sangamams, while introducing a sharper emphasis on linguistic learning and academic exchange. The celebrations will culminate in a Valedictory Function at Rameswaram, symbolically completing the journey from Kashi—one of North India’s holiest centres—to one of the most revered sites of Tamil spiritual heritage. This north-to-south arc reflects the very spirit of the Sangamam: a bridge between two vibrant cultural geographies.

The heart of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 lies in its theme, “Let Us Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam.” This edition places Tamil language learning at the center of its vision, carrying forward the belief that all Indian languages belong to a shared Bharatiya Bhasha family. The theme conveys a simple but powerful message: linguistic diversity strengthens cultural unity. This year’s edition also introduces a stronger educational focus, with an emphasis on language-based cultural exchange and youth engagement. It takes the idea of cultural oneness beyond symbolism, by creating opportunities for students from the Kashi region to immerse themselves in the Tamil language and experience Tamil Nadu’s rich heritage firsthand.

In keeping with this expanded vision, more than 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu belonging to seven broad categories—students, teachers, writers and media professionals, those from agriculture and allied sectors, professionals and artisans, women, and spiritual scholars- will participate in events at Kashi. Their participation ensures that the spirit of the theme reaches diverse sections of society, making Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 both inclusive and far-reaching in its impact.

 

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0: Key Initiatives

Teaching Tamil to Students in Uttar Pradesh – “Let Us Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam”

A central initiative of this edition is the structured introduction of Tamil learning, specifically in the Kashi region.

• 50 Hindi-knowing Tamil teachers, including DBHPS Pracharaks, will be deployed in 50 schools across Varanasi from 2^nd December to 15^th December 2025.
• They will undergo training at the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) before arriving in Uttar Pradesh.
• Each teacher will conduct short-term spoken Tamil modules for batches of 30 students, covering basic conversation, pronunciation and alphabets.
• In total, 1,500 students will learn introductory Tamil through this initiative.
• The Tamil Department of BHU, CIIL Mysuru, IRCTC and the Varanasi administration are supporting coordination and logistics.

This initiative represents a significant step towards expanding Tamil learning outside Tamil Nadu and promoting linguistic inclusivity.

Learn Tamil While Visiting Tamil Nadu – Study Tour Programme

Complementing Tamil teaching in Uttar Pradesh is a large-scale educational immersion for youth from the Kashi region.

• 300 college students from Uttar Pradesh will visit Tamil Nadu in 10 batches to learn Tamil language.
• They will attend an orientation at Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) Chennai, followed by Tamil language classes and cultural sessions conducted at leading institutions across the state.
• Each institution will host the students, provide subject coordinators and organise study tours to sites associated with historic Tamil–Kashi linkages.
• All students will receive certificates of participation.

List of Institutes:

Batch No.	Name of Institute
1 and 2	IIT Madras (2 Batches of Students)
3	Central University, Pondicherry
4	Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed University, Dindugal
5	Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
6	Sri Sankara Arts and Science College, Enathur, Kanchipuram
7	Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Mahavidyalaya, Kanchipuram
8	Kongunadu Arts & Science College, Coimbatore
9	Shastra University, Thanjavur
10	Ganadipathy Tulsi's Jain Engineering College (GTEC), Vellore

The programme ensures that young learners from North India gain direct exposure to Tamil language, heritage and contemporary cultural practices.

Sage Agastya Vehicle Expedition (SAVE)

One of the most symbolic initiatives of KTS 4.0 is the Sage Agastya Vehicle Expedition (SAVE), which retraces a civilisational route deeply embedded in Tamil and Indian tradition.

• The expedition begins in Tenkasi (Tamil Nadu) on 2^nd December 2025 and reaches Kashi on 10^th December 2025.
• It follows the legendary path associated with Sage Agastya, reflecting Tamil Nadu’s contribution to Indian knowledge systems.
• The journey also honours the legacy of Pandiyan ruler Adi Veera Parakrama Pandiyan, who travelled north to spread the message of cultural oneness and built a Shiva temple, leading to the naming of Tenkasi (“Dakshin Kashi”).
• Along its route, the expedition highlights civilisational linkages from the Chera, Chola, Pandya, Pallava, Chalukya and Vijayanagara periods.
• It also promotes awareness of classical Tamil literature, Siddha medicine, and shared heritage traditions.

This expedition symbolises the deep historical movement of ideas, culture and spiritual learning between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.

From 1.0 to 4.0: Journey of Kashi Tamil Sangamam

Since its inception in 2022, Kashi Tamil Sangamam has developed into a structured cultural and educational engagement between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. Each edition has expanded its scope through curated delegations, thematic focus areas, academic interactions, and heritage experiences, steadily strengthening the civilisational relationship between the two regions.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 1.0 (November – December 2022)

The inaugural edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam in 2022, inaugurated by PM Shri Narendra Modi, set the foundation for the cultural bridge that continues to strengthen through subsequent editions. The first edition, held from 16^thNovember to 15^thDecember 2022, brought the cultural bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi into public focus in a large, immersive format.

Key Highlights:

• 2,500+ participants from Tamil Nadu across 12 diverse groups—students, teachers, artisans, farmers, writers, spiritual leaders, professionals and cultural practitioners.
• Eight-day curated tours covering Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
• Visits to major cultural and spiritual sites: Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Kedar Ghat, Sarnath, and Tamil heritage pockets in Kashi.
• A visit to the ancestral house of MahakaviSubramania Bharati and interactions with Tamil-speaking communities in the city.
• Daily cultural programmes at BHU featuring artists from Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
• Exhibitions showcasing handlooms, handicrafts, ODOP products, books and traditional cuisine.
• Academic sessions, lecture-demonstrations and community interactions that explored historical and literary ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.

This inaugural edition established the model of the Sangamam—bringing people together through heritage, culture, scholarship and direct exchange—and laid a strong foundation for all subsequent editions.

 

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2.0 (December 2023)

Held from 17^thto 30^thDecember 2023 at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, the second edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam expanded the scale and depth of the cultural exchange established in the inaugural year.

Key Highlights of KTS 2.0

• 1,435 delegates from Tamil Nadu across seven diverse categories participated in curated eight-day tours covering Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya, including visits to major spiritual and Tamil-heritage sites such as Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sarnath and Subramania Bharati’s house.
• The edition introduced the first-ever real-time Tamil translation of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s address, ensuring seamless communication with delegates.
• Daily cultural programmes at Namo Ghat showcased classical, folk and contemporary performances from both states, alongside seven themed academic sessions, including a special Agastya Jayanti session.
• A major exhibition featuring handlooms, handicrafts, ODOP products, books and regional cuisine recorded ₹22 lakh in sales and attracted more than 2 lakh visitors.

• Strong digital footprint, with a campaign reach of 8.5 crore citizens (Brand24) and 8 million (80 lakh) total reach with 2.5 lakh interactions across official KTS social media handles.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0 (February 2025)

The third edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam, held from 15^th to 24^th February 2025, expanded the cultural and intellectual bridge between Tamil Nadu and Kashi with a deeper thematic focus.

Key Highlights of KTS 3.0

• A dedicated thematic focus on Sage Agasthyar, with exhibitions and discussions highlighting his contributions to literature, linguistics, philosophy and Bharatiya knowledge traditions.
• Visits to culturally significant sites across Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya, including the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 at Prayagraj and the newly inaugurated Ram Mandir, offering delegates an immersive spiritual and cultural experience.
• Workshops, seminars and interdisciplinary sessions connecting ancient Tamil knowledge systems with modern research, innovation and contemporary education, aligned with NEP 2020’s emphasis on Indian knowledge traditions.
• Participation from diverse groups — students, teachers, writers, artisans, entrepreneurs, women’s collectives, DBHPS Pracharaks and youth innovators — enabling meaningful cross-regional exchange and deeper community connect.

KTS 3.0 strengthened the Sangamam’s role as a platform where tradition and modernity meet, reinforcing the civilisational continuity between Tamil Nadu and Kashi through learning, dialogue and shared cultural experience.

Strengthening the Kashi – Tamil Bond: A Lasting Cultural Continuum

Across its four editions, Kashi Tamil Sangamam has shown how cultural exchange becomes truly transformative when rooted in lived experience.Each edition has added a distinct dimension to this journey: the large-scale cultural immersion of KTS 1.0, the expanded public participation and thematic engagements of KTS 2.0, and the knowledge-centred, Sage Agasthyar-focused discourse of KTS 3.0. With KTS 4.0, the Sangamam enters a new phase by placing Tamil language learning at the forefront, enabling two-way linguistic engagement through Tamil Karkalam, Tamil Karpom, and structured study tours.

Together, these editions illustrate how the Sangamam has moved beyond a commemorative programme into a continuing cultural pathway. Delegates rediscover Tamil heritage in Kashi’s ghats and temples; students from Uttar Pradesh experience Tamil Nadu firsthand; teachers introduce Tamil to new learners; and communities in both regions connect over literature, crafts, cuisine and shared spiritual traditions.

This cumulative journey mirrors the core vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, where national unity is strengthened through familiarity with each other’s languages, traditions and perspectives. The rediscovery of ancient linkages—highlighted through initiatives like the Sage Agastya Vehicle Expedition—and the creation of contemporary learning spaces in schools, universities and cultural venues reflect the EBSB emphasis on year-round cultural exchange, linguistic appreciation and youth-driven participation.

As Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 unfolds with a renewed linguistic and educational focus, it reinforces the idea that cultural understanding is built through consistent interaction. By nurturing heritage, encouraging language learning, and enabling meaningful people-to-people contact, the Sangamam stands today as a lasting cultural continuum—deepening the timeless relationship between Tamil Nadu and Kashi and enriching India’s unity through shared civilisational experience.

References:

https://kashitamil.iitm.ac.in/home

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2192810

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2187556

https://x.com/PIB_India/status/1992118405592441194

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1980376

https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/feb/doc2025214502301.pdf

https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/jun/doc202562561301.pdf

https://blogs.pib.gov.in/blogsdescrI.aspx?feaaid=81

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2192810#:~:text=Sage%20Agasthya%20Vehicle%20Expedition%20from,Kashi%20on%2010th%20December%202025.

https://kashitamil.bhu.edu.in/index.html

https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/image-gallery/

Click here to see pdf 

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