NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, FEB 13
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, flagged off the train carrying the first batch of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0 delegates—including students, teachers, and writers—today at Dr. MGR Central Railway Station, Chennai. This 10-day-long event is scheduled to take place from 15th to 24th February 2025. Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti and other dignitaries were also present at the event.
"Had lively interaction with students, teachers and authors travelling to Kashi by train as part of the #KashiTamilSangamam3. Was deeply touched by their enthusiasm and exuberance at being able visit the three important holy places in one go. They were thrilled at the prospect of… pic.twitter.com/RitlisgjuL
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) February 13, 2025
Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, in a social media message, welcomed everyone to embrace the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ at Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0. He emphasized that the event serves to cherish, celebrate, and strengthen the deep-rooted bonds between Kashi and Tamil Nadu—two enduring centers of culture, civilization, and knowledge.
- This 10-day-long event is scheduled to take place from 15th to 24th February 2025
- 1st time the participants of KTS 3.0 to experience Mahakumbh and visit Ram Mandir at Ayodhya
- This year, the government has decided to bring around 1000 delegates from Tamil Nadu under five categories
Governor Ravi flagged off the train carrying the first batch of spiritual and cultural pilgrims for #KashiTamilSangamam3 from Puratchithalaivar Dr. M.G.R. Central Railway Station, Chennai. Thanks to the Hon'ble PM Thiru @narendramodi this is the Third edition of grand annual… pic.twitter.com/YNZtPIzq6k
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) February 13, 2025
The central theme of this edition of KTS will be Maharishi Agasthyar and Mahakumbh and Shri Ayodhya Dham will be the backdrop. The event will offer a divine experience and bring Tamil Nadu and Kashi—the two timeless centres of our civilisation and culture, more closer.
An exhibition on the different facets of Sage Agasthyar and his contributions to world of Health, Philosophy, Science, Linguistics, Literature, Polity, Culture, Art, particularly to Tamil and Tamil Nadu, etc. and seminars, workshops, book release, etc. will be organised at Kashi during KTS 3.0.
This year, the government has decided to bring around 1000 delegates from Tamil Nadu under five categories/groups: (i) Students, Teachers, and Writers; (ii) Farmers and Artisans (Vishwakarma Categories); (iii) Professionals and Small Entrepreneurs; (iv) Women (SHG, Mudra Loan beneficiaries, DBHPS Pracharaks); and (v) Start-up, Innovation, Edu-Tech, Research. This year, an additional group of around 200 students of Tamil origin studying in various CUs will be a part of this event to enliven the bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. Participation of youth in all categories has been encouraged this year. The duration of the tour for the delegates will be 8 days (4 for travel, 4 at site). The first group left Tamil Nadu today and the last group will return to Tamil Nadu on 26th February 2025.
The objective of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam is to rediscover, reaffirm, and celebrate the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi—two of the country’s most important and ancient seats of learning.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam is being organized by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India in collaboration with other ministries, including Culture, Textiles, Railways, Tourism, Food Processing, I&B etc. and the Govt. of UP. The programme aims to provide an opportunity for scholars, students, philosophers, traders, artisans, artists and people from other walks of life from the two regions to come together, share their knowledge, culture and best practices and learn from each other’s experience. It also aims to make the youth aware and experience cultural oneness. The endeavour is in sync with NEP 2020’s emphasis on integrating the wealth of Indian Knowledge Systems with modern systems of knowledge. IIT Madras and BHU are the two implementing agencies for the programme.
Get ready to immerse in the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ at #KashiTamilSangamam 3.0.
Join us as we cherish, celebrate and strengthen the bonds between Kashi and Tamil Nadu—two timeless centres of culture, civilisation and knowledge.
🗓️Feb 15-24, 2025… pic.twitter.com/aNhkVbE6ln
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 13, 2025
The Government has so far celebrated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam on two occasions earlier; i.e., for one month in 2022 and for a fortnight in 2023 and around 4000 delegates from Tamil Nadu have been a part of this event. In both the editions of KTS, there were overwhelming responses from people of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. IIT Madras will be the sender institution and BHU the receiving institution, as in the earlier editions.
Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the registration portal for KTS 3.0 on 15th January 2025. The portal for registration was open till 1st February 2025.
KTS 2.0 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Varanasi on 17th December, 2023, with the first-ever real-time, app-based translation of a part of the Prime Minister’s speech in Tamil for the benefit of visiting Tamil delegates.
- To facilitate seamless connectivity for passengers, Southern Railway is operating 05 pairs of special trains in coordination with implementing agencies for the program viz. IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
- These trains will depart from Dr. MGR Central Railway (02 services), Kanniyakumari (02 services) and Coimbatore Railway station (01 service) connecting important cities enroute in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi flagged off the journey of the first contingent of 212 delegates to Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0 event by a special train from Dr MGR Central Railway Station here on Thursday.
Shri Kaushal Kishore, Additional General Manager, Southern Railway, Shri B. Vishwanath Eerya, Divisional Railway Manager, Shri Tej Partap Singh, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Senior Branch Officials of Chennai Division, Eminent members of Kashi Tamil Sangamam Committee, namely, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Dr. Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, Dr. Sudha Seshayyan, Shri R Chandrasekaran, Director of CICT, Representatives from Ramakrishna Mutt, staff and rail users participated in the event.
The delegates comprising students, writers and teachers were accorded a grand reception at Dr MGR Central Railway Station and were facilitated through help desks for boarding the Kashi Tamil Sangamam special train that left for Banaras at 2.45 pm on Thursday.
RN Ravi, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, extended a warm welcome to the inaugural batch of delegates, presenting them with roses. He also honored the students with delegate bags, a special memento of their participation in the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0.
Special trains by Southern Railway for Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0:
To facilitate seamless connectivity for passengers from Tamil Nadu to Varanasi for Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0, Southern Railway is operating 05 pairs of special trains in coordination with implementing agencies for the program viz. IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU). These trains will depart from Dr. MGR Central Railway (02 services), Kanniyakumari (02 services) and Coimbatore Railway station (01 service) connecting important cities enroute in Tamil Nadu.
