The Ministry of Education will launch the fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS) on 2 December 2025, marking another significant step in celebrating the timeless civilisational bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. Centred on the theme “Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam”, this year’s edition seeks to promote Tamil learning across India and deepen appreciation for the country’s classical linguistic and literary heritage.
Coordinated jointly by IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the event is being supported by several ministries, including Culture, Information & Broadcasting, Tourism, Textiles, Food Processing Industries, MSME, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, IRCTC, along with the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Since its debut in 2022, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam has grown into a significant cultural platform reconnecting two ancient knowledge traditions. With strong public participation in each previous edition, KTS 4.0 aims to deepen this engagement through learning exchanges, cultural immersion, academic dialogues and expanded youth involvement.
Theme for 2025: “Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam”
This year’s edition is centred on the theme “Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam”, aimed at promoting Tamil learning across India. More than 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu are expected to participate, representing seven categories: students, teachers, writers and media professionals, those from agriculture and allied sectors, professionals and artisans, women, and spiritual scholars and practitioners.
Delegates will embark on an eight-day experiential tour covering Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya. The itinerary includes seminars, interactions, cultural performances, and exposure to local cuisine, handicrafts and heritage.
In Varanasi, participants will visit key Tamil heritage sites such as the ancestral house of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharatiyar, Kedar Ghat, the historic Kasi Madam in the “Little Tamil Nadu” area, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Mata Annapurna Temple. Delegates will also visit BHU’s Tamil Department for academic and literary engagement. For registrations, two dedicated portals have been launched for KTS 4.0.
Major Initiatives Under KTS 4.0
1. Sage Agasthya Vehicle Expedition: Tenkasi to Kashi:
A major attraction of KTS 4.0 will be the Sage Agasthya Vehicle Expedition, beginning on 2 December 2025 from Tenkasi and concluding in Kashi on 10 December. The route traces ancient cultural pathways followed by Pandiyan ruler Adi Veera Parakrama Pandiyan, who promoted unity through his journey from Tamil Nadu to Kashi and established a Shiva temple, giving rise to the name Tenkasi (Dakshin Kashi).
The expedition will highlight linkages from the Chera, Chola, Pandya, Pallava, Chalukya and Vijayanagara eras, while also promoting classical Tamil literature, Siddha medicine and shared civilisational heritage.
2. Teaching Tamil in Varanasi Schools
As part of the “Tamil Karkalam” campaign, 50 Hindi-speaking Tamil teachers will be posted in schools across Kashi to teach Tamil to local students.
3. Tamil Learning Tour for Kashi Students
Three hundred college students from Kashi will visit institutions in Tamil Nadu for a 15-day Tamil language learning programme. CICT Chennai will provide learning resources, while host institutions will organise academic, cultural and heritage-centred tours. The students will be received with a traditional welcome in Chennai.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 reaffirms the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening national unity through cultural exchange, linguistic enrichment and knowledge-sharing. By bringing together diverse communities, the programme underscores India’s living civilisational continuity and cultural oneness.
The Inaugural Edition: KTS 1.0 (2022)
The first edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam was held from 16th November to 15th December 2022, as a GoI Event of Ministry of Education in collaboration with State Government of Uttar Pradesh. Over 2500 people from Tamil Nadu, representing 12 different walks of life, had travelled to Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya on 8 day-tours, during which they had an immersive experience of different aspects of life in and around Varanasi. This event was organized at BHU, Varanasi.
KTS 2.0 (2023): Strengthening Intellectual and Cultural Ties
The second edition (KTS 2.0) was held from 17th to 30th December 2023 at Namo Ghat in Varanasi, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event featured the first-ever real-time, app-based translation of the PM’s speech in Tamil for visiting delegates.
KTS 3.0 (2025): Taking ahead the modern times through Bridging the Indian knowledge and tradition with contemporary discourse
The third edition (KTS 3.0) took place from 15th to 24th February 2025, highlighting the legacy of Sage Agasthyar and bridging Indian knowledge tradition with contemporary discourse. Around 1000 delegates from Tamil Nadu participated, including an additional 200 students from various Central Universities.
