Special Inaugural train for KTS 4.0 begins its journey from Kanniyakumari with 216 delegates

Special Service and Features Special Inaugural train for KTS 4.0 begins its journey from Kanniyakumari with 216 delegates प्रव तथ: 29 NOV 2025 5:17PM by PIB Chennai The Kashi Tamil Sangamam, an initiative celebrating the civilisational links and timeless bonds between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, enters its fourth edition from 02 to 15 December 2025 in Varanasi.

The first train of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 began its journey from Kanyakumari today (29th November 2025) with 45 delegates. It will be joined by 86 delegates at Tiruchirappalli and 87 delegates from Chennai, bringing the total in this first batch to 216 delegates. The group comprises 50 Tamil literary experts, 54 cultural scholars, in addition to students, teachers, artisans, classical singers, and instructors and students of spiritual texts.

At Kanyakumari Railway Station, the delegates were seen off this morning by the local MLA, Shri M.R. Gandhi, along with members of the public.Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 will formally commence with an inaugural function on 2nd December 2025 at NaMo Ghat, Varanasi.

This edition holds added significance as it coincides with Karthigai Deepam, one of Tamil Nadu’s most auspicious festivals, celebrated on 4th December. More than 1,500 delegates will participate in a series of knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at fostering deeper understanding of India’s diverse cultural traditions.

During the eight-day tour, participants from Tamil Nadu, representing varied walks of life, will explore Varanasi and nearby regions, including Prayagraj and Ayodhya, gaining immersive exposure to different facets of life in these cultural centres. Delegates will also visit places of religious and historic significance such as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, NaMo Ghat, Hanuman Ghat, Banaras Hindu University, Sarnath, and the Ayodhya Temple.

As part of the awareness programmes under the theme “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,” four major allied events are planned alongside KTS 4.0.

The theme of this year’s Sangamam — “Let Us Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam” — underscores the message that all Indian languages belong to one family. The initiative aims to carry Tamil language and culture to other parts of the country, symbolising unity and expanding the reach of ancient Tamil texts by encouraging their dissemination into other Indian languages.Sage Agasthya Vehicle Expedition from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, to Kashi, Uttar Pradesh, will also be launched on 2nd December and will conclude in Varanasi on 12th December. The rally commemorates Adi Veera Parakrama Pandiyan, the Pandiya ruler who spread the message of cultural oneness through his historic journey from Tamil Nadu to Kashi and established a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, renaming the town as Tenkasi (Dakshin Kashi) to reflect the spirit of unity. The rally will exhibit educational materials highlighting the historical connections between Tamil Nadu and Kashi fostered by the Chera, Chola, Pandya, Pallava, and Chalukya dynasties.

Another key initiative to be launched during KTS 4.0 is the programme “Teaching Tamil to Students in Uttar Pradesh” under the campaign “Let Us Learn Tamil – Karpom Tamil.” Under this initiative, students from Uttar Pradesh visiting Tamil Nadu will be introduced to the richness of the Tamil language. Ten batches of 30 college students each from Uttar Pradesh will visit designated colleges in Tamil Nadu.

Faculty from the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai will provide orientation training to teaching faculty who, in turn, will teach Tamil to the participating students from Uttar Pradesh.

The Kashi Tamil Sangamam, a visionary initiative of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, continues as an annual event dedicated to strengthening the enduring cultural and people-to-people connect between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, while meeting the growing enthusiasm for participation in this Government programme.

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