Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 3.0)

The government recently launched the registration portal for the third edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 3.0), scheduled to take place from 15th February to 24th February 2025 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This 10-day event aims to strengthen the cultural and intellectual connections between Tamil Nadu and Kashi (Varanasi), two iconic cultural and spiritual hubs of India.

What is Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS)?

• Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a significant cultural initiative that aims to celebrate and reinforce the centuries-old bond between the two cultural regions
  • Tamil Nadu in the south
  • Kashi (Varanasi) in the north
• This initiative is part of the broader vision of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat (Unified India), which seeks to promote cultural integration and understanding across different regions of India.
• It also aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes integrating traditional knowledge systems with modern education.
• What Makes KTS Special in 2025? This year’s edition (KTS 3.0) holds special significance as it coincides with the Mahakumbh Mela in Varanasi and the Pran Pratishtha (inauguration) of the Shri Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya.
• Central Theme: The central theme of this year’s event is Maharishi Agasthyar, a revered sage whose contributions to Tamil literature, philosophy, science, linguistics, and culture have deeply influenced both Tamil Nadu and India's knowledge traditions.
  • Maharishi Agasthyar’s legacy is celebrated for his intellectual brilliance, and his teachings continue to shape the cultural and spiritual life in Tamil Nadu, making him the central figure of KTS 3.0.

The Cultural and Philosophical Connection

• The connection between Tamil Nadu and Kashi (Varanasi) is not only historical but also deeply spiritual.
• In ancient times, Tamil scholars considered it a significant part of their education to visit Kashi, regarded as one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers in India.
• The legacy of Kashi is also reflected in Tamil Nadu, with several temples named after Kashi Vishwanath and various references to Kashi in Tamil literature and culture.
• A key example of this connection is the story of King Parakrama Pandya of Tamil Nadu, who brought a Shiva Lingam from Kashi to build a temple in
  • He is believed to have installed the lingam at Sivakasi after the cow carrying it refused to move further, symbolizing the divine wish.
  • Similarly, the Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi was built by the Pandyas as a tribute to Kashi for devotees unable to travel to Varanasi.
• The spiritual journey of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu often involved traveling to Rameswaram first, then taking a dip in the Koti Teertha (a holy water tank), before proceeding to Kashi for darshan (worship). The journey was considered incomplete without both places.