File photo of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath.
| Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
Inaugurating the third edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi on Saturday (February 15, 2025), Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the unique event signifies India’s cultural foundations, noting that Kashi and Tamil Nadu share an emotional and creative bond since time immemorial.
The Sangamam is inspired and guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat (One India, Excellent India)’, the U.P. Chief Minister said.
“This is a part of the grand spiritual and cultural initiative to advance the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.’ This year, the Sangamam is also being integrated with the grand Maha Kumbh celebrations, and elevates the centuries-old tradition to new heights. The vision of uniting north and south, east and west, and strengthening ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’ is done through the Kashi Tamil Sangamam under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mr. Adityanath said, at Varanasi’s Namo Ghat.
Kashi, Kumbh, and Ayodhya
He added that this edition also holds a special significance as it is the first to be held after the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “Delegates of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam will get an opportunity to immerse themselves in the divinity of Kashi, Kumbh, and Ayodhya,” he said.
The U.P. CM reiterated the historical significance of Kashi as a centre of India’s cultural heritage and spirituality since ancient times and also hailed the legacy of Tamil literature, one of the world’s oldest literary traditions. “Organising this Kashi Tamil Sangamam reconnects us with this invaluable heritage,” he added.
This year’s Sangamam is centred around the theme of ‘4S’. “This edition is held with a vision that unites India’s Saint tradition, Scientists, Social reformers, and Students, drawing inspiration from Maharishi Agastya. It is believed that Maharishi Agastya is the sage who bridges north and south India,” Mr. Adityanath said. He added that the Kashi Tamil Sangamam has established itself as an effective platform for mutual dialogue between the people of the north and south in India.
Music, heritage and devotion
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the celebration would weave music, heritage, and devotion together on the banks of the Ganga. “As per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s Viksit Bharat 2047, we have to carry development and heritage together. This celebration brings heritage, music and devotion together,” he said.
Mr. Pradhan also listed several related initiatives of the Union government in the field of education. “Taking forward the broader vision, the establishment of the National Digital Repository of Indian Knowledge System has been announced in this year’s Budget. Under this initiative, our ancient texts and manuscripts will be digitised and research will be done on their relevance through Artificial Intelligence (AI). Also, under the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustaka Yojana, all the textbooks of higher education and professional courses will be translated into 22 Indian languages and stored as a digital Maha Kumbh, so that the students of the new generation can take a dip in this knowledge Kumbh in their own language,” said Mr. Pradhan.
U.P. Ministers Dayashankar Mishra ‘Dayalu’ and Ravindra Jaiswal, Union Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Sanjay Kumar, and IIT-BHU director Amit Patra were also present at the inauguration event.
Published – February 15, 2025 10:21 pm IST