How about a trip to the land of Shiva zipping through the home of Muruga?
If you are looking for a uniquely spiritual and enriching travel experience, you might want to join the Kashi Tamil Sangamam.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the Namo Ghat in Varanasi with his presence and launched the second edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, a festival that celebrates the cultural and spiritual ties between the people of Kashi and Tamil Nadu. He also flagged off a new express train service (Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express) that will connect the holy city of Kashi Vishwanath with the southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari.
The prime minister addressed the audience in Hindi. Still, his speech was simultaneously translated into Tamil by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based system called Bhashini, for the benefit of those who understood Tamil. He said, “…You all have come here as members of my family more than being just guests. I welcome you all to the Kashi Tamil Sangamam…"
The Special Connect Between Kashi and Tamil Nadu
He further added, “Going to Varanasi from Tamil Nadu means going from Mahadev’s one home to another. That’s why the bond between people of Tamil Nadu and Varanasi is special,” praising the ancient philosophers like Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya, who created the idea of India as a nation based on spiritual beliefs.
He also said, “In other countries of the world, the nation has been a political definition, but India is made up of spiritual beliefs. India has been united by saints like Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya, who awakened the national consciousness of India through their travels.”
PM Modi Lauds The Collaboration Between BHU and IIT Madras
He also expressed his happiness over the collaboration between Banaras Hindu University and IIT Madras to make the Kashi Tamil Sangamam successful. He said, “I am happy that the Banaras Hindu University and IIT Madras have collaborated to make the Kashi Tamil Sangamam a success.
The IIT Madras has started the ‘Vidya Shakti’ initiative to help students from Kashi in maths and science. These things show that the relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu is special."
Kashi Tamil Sangamam: A Showcase of Cultural Diversity and Harmony
The Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a programme that will feature cultural events highlighting the unique traditions of Kashi and Tamil Nadu to strengthen the ties between the people of these two regions. The Union Ministry of Education is the nodal agency for the event with participation from the ministries of culture, tourism, railways, textiles, food processing, MSME, information and broadcasting, skill development and entrepreneurship, IRCTC and related departments of the Uttar Pradesh government.
You can also connect with me on Instagram & YouTube.
Ready to travel for free? Earn credits and redeem them on Tripoto’s weekend getaways, hotel stays and vacation packages!
Think we missed out on something? Tell us about it in the comments below. Or write about it here on Tripoto and earn Tripoto Credits!
' fill='%23359391'%3e %3cpath d='M46.1538462%2c43.5714286 L41.5%2c50 L36.8461538%2c43.5714286 L36.8670256%2c43.5714286 C36.3173077%2c42.7142857 36%2c41.6851429 36%2c40.5714286 C36%2c37.4854286 38.4535641%2c35 41.5%2c35 C44.5464359%2c35 47%2c37.4854286 47%2c40.5714286 C47%2c41.6851429 46.6826923%2c42.7142857 46.1329744%2c43.5714286 L46.1538462%2c43.5714286 Z M41.4294872%2c39 C40.6150641%2c39 39.9487179%2c39.675 39.9487179%2c40.5 C39.9487179%2c41.325 40.6150641%2c42 41.4294872%2c42 C42.2439103%2c42 42.9102564%2c41.325 42.9102564%2c40.5 C42.9102564%2c39.675 42.2439103%2c39 41.4294872%2c39 L41.4294872%2c39 Z' id='Location-white'%3e%3c/path%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
