Kashi-Tamil Sangamam:
The Union Government recently announced a month-long programme to “strengthen” and “rekindle” the cultural and civilisational bond between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.
- ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’ programme would be held from November 16 to December 16.
- This programme, which would be a part of the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative which is aimed at rekindling the civilisational link between the new Kashi and Tamil Nadu both deep centres of knowledge.
- Building a heritage bridge for the new generation was a key feature of the National Education Policy.
- As part of the programme, 2,500 people divided into 12 groups would be travelling to Varanasi by train during the period.
- The journey points in Tamil Nadu would be Chennai, Rameswaram and Coimbatore.
- The groups would include students, teachers, artisans and people from various walks of life.
- The tours would include seminars, lectures, group meetings and visits to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and centres of important Tamil cultural heritage in Varanasi.
- The knowledge partners for the programme would be IIT-Madras and the Banaras Hindu University, while the Uttar Pradesh government would be the host State.