New Delhi, November 29, 2025 – The fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 4.0) will be held in two phases to celebrate the cultural and civilizational links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, the Union education ministry announced on Saturday.

The first phase will take place from December 2 to 15 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, while the second phase is scheduled for December 16 to 30 in Tamil Nadu. The initiative is part of the government’s larger effort to strengthen the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, with this edition themed “Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam”, aimed at enabling students from Uttar Pradesh to learn the Tamil language.

“Around 50 teachers from Tamil Nadu who are also proficient in Hindi will travel to Kashi,” said Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi. “Each teacher will take charge of 30 students in various schools in Varanasi, meaning nearly 1,500 children will learn Tamil by the end of the programme.” Upon completion, all participants will receive certificates of participation.

The second phase will involve 300 college students from Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, traveling to Tamil Nadu for a 15-day Tamil language learning programme from December 16 to 30. The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai, will provide orientation and learning materials, while host institutions will organize academic and cultural tours highlighting Tamil Nadu’s rich heritage, traditions, and historic ties with Kashi.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) will serve as the nodal institutions for the programme, supported by central ministries and the Uttar Pradesh government. IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti said the initiative aims to “promote the richness of the Tamil language across the country.”

KTS 4.0 will host more than 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu, spanning categories such as students, teachers, writers, media professionals, agriculture and allied sectors, artisans, women self-help groups, and spiritual scholars. Apart from Varanasi, delegates will visit Prayagraj and Ayodhya, engaging in seminars, cultural programmes, and interactive sessions.

Planned activities include Tamil learning sessions in Kashi and the Agasthya Expedition, a cultural trail connecting Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu to Varanasi, passing through Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh, inspired by the travels of Sage Agasthyar. Awareness campaigns on Siddha medicine and classical Tamil texts will also be conducted through digital displays.

Additionally, around 110 stalls will be set up at Namo Ghat in Varanasi by various central ministries, complemented by sessions at BHU connecting the knowledge traditions of Kashi and Tamil Nadu. The programme will conclude on December 30 in Rameswaram, marking the symbolic culmination of this year’s cultural exchange.

The third edition of KTS was held in February 2025, with the first and second editions taking place in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Over the years, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam has emerged as a flagship initiative promoting linguistic, cultural, and civilizational exchanges between northern and southern India.

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