Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi on Tuesday, December 3, 2025, emphasizing its role in fortifying the cultural, linguistic, and spiritual fabric of India. The event, themed "Learn Tamil," aims to bridge the historical connection between North and South India, paving the way for a brighter national future.
Strengthening Bonds Through Language and Education
In a significant move to promote linguistic diversity, Adityanath announced that the Uttar Pradesh government has integrated six major Indian languages into its vocational education framework. Students can now opt to study Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Marathi, or Bengali, with the state covering all associated costs. He highlighted Tamil as providing a pivotal platform in this educational initiative, which seeks to deepen mutual understanding and respect among India's diverse communities.
The Chief Minister articulated that the Sangamam is more than a cultural event; it is a catalyst for strengthening cultural, linguistic, economic, and spiritual partnerships between the regions. He connected this modern effort to ancient ties, noting that the bond between Kashi and Tamil culture is deeply rooted in the shared worship of Lord Shiva, a connection further propagated across India by Adi Shankaracharya through sacred Peethas.
Spiritual Tourism and Historic Traditions
Adityanath outlined plans to enhance spiritual tourism, inviting devotees from across India to experience Uttar Pradesh's sacred geography. He mentioned the unique spiritual journey encompassing devotion to Lord Shiva in Kashi, the holy confluence at Prayagraj, and the divine darshan of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya.
Conversely, he noted that a large number of pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh annually visit Tamil Nadu's Rameshwaram, Madurai, and Kanyakumari. To facilitate this, the state tourism department will organize special travel programs offering concessional rates to these southern destinations.
The Chief Minister also shed light on enduring traditions that symbolize this unity. He highlighted the two-century-old practice of the Chettiar community supplying puja materials to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Furthermore, a monthly ritual now sees the abhishekam of Lord Ramanathaswamy performed with water from Prayagraj's Triveni Sangam, while Lord Vishwanath in Kashi is anointed with water from Tamil Nadu's Koditirtham.
Commemorating Connections and Academic Collaboration
A key highlight of this year's event was a car rally that commenced from Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu, traversing 2,000 kilometres to reach Varanasi. Adityanath described this journey as a powerful commemoration of the deep, sacred connections with Kashi.
He also commended collaborative academic efforts, such as the joint programs between IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), viewing them as concrete steps that bolster national unity through knowledge and research.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and L Murugan, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K Kailasanathan, and UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan addressed the gathering virtually.
Through these multifaceted initiatives, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2025 stands as a robust embodiment of the "Ek Bharat–Shreshtha Bharat" (One India, Excellent India) vision, leveraging language, culture, and spirituality to weave a stronger national tapestry.
