The Ministry of Education has announced that the fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, a flagship cultural and educational exchange programme celebrating the historic links between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu, will begin on December 2.

This year’s edition introduces two major highlights — a valedictory ceremony at Rameswaram marking the closing of festivities, and the launch of “Tamil Karpom”, a new initiative aimed at enabling students from North India to learn Tamil in Tamil Nadu.

Centred around the theme “Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam”, Sangamam 4.0 seeks to promote the learning of Tamil across the country, fostering wider appreciation for India’s classical linguistic and literary heritage.

According to a senior Education Ministry official, over 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu will take part — representing seven diverse categories, including students, teachers, professionals, cultural practitioners and others.

Participants will undertake an eight-day experiential journey across Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya, featuring academic seminars, interactive sessions, cultural performances and deep-dive experiences into local cuisine, crafts and heritage.

As with previous editions, IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) have been designated as the nodal institutions for implementation, working closely with the Uttar Pradesh government and multiple Central ministries.

Launched in 2022 as a month-long event to revive civilisational linkages between the two regions, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam has since become an annual bridge-building platform. The second edition was held in December 2023 and the third in February 2024.

This year’s programme also features the Agasthya Expedition, tracing the cultural trail of Sage Agasthyar from Tenkasi to Varanasi, underscoring his contributions to India’s civilisational ethos.

Scheduled to begin on December 2 and reach Kashi on December 10, the expedition symbolises the historic journey of the Pandiyan ruler Adi Veera Parakrama Pandiyan, who promoted unity across Bharat and renamed the town Tenkasi — “Dakshin Kashi” — to celebrate shared spiritual heritage.

Efforts to promote traditional knowledge systems will also be in focus, including awareness initiatives on the Siddha system of medicine, displays of classical Tamil texts and the use of multilingual digital messages across heritage sites to extend public outreach.

As part of the “Tamil Karkalam” campaign, 50 Tamil teachers proficient in Hindi will teach Tamil to school students in Kashi, further advancing linguistic exchange and cultural familiarity among young learners.