India’s Kashi Tamil Sangamam programme is preparing for its fifth edition, bringing together education, literature and cultural exchange through a programme connecting Tamil Nadu and the historic city of Varanasi.
The registration portal was launched on October 22, 2026, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s successor in the ministry, Pralhad Joshi, announcing the initiative. The 2026 edition is scheduled to run from November 28 to December 12.
The theme this year is Thirukkural, the classical Tamil work attributed to the poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. Comprising 1,330 couplets arranged across 133 chapters, the text explores ethics, personal conduct, leadership and moral responsibility.
The programme seeks to make this literary tradition more accessible to learners from different linguistic and academic backgrounds.
A Programme Linking Two Cultural Regions
Kashi Tamil Sangamam is designed to build educational and cultural connections between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. Its activities bring together students, teachers, writers, professionals, artists, agriculturalists and scholars through visits, discussions and structured learning programmes.
The fifth edition is expected to include approximately 1,400 participants from Tamil Nadu, organised into seven groups of around 200 people each. The planned journey combines travel with visits and structured activities in Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
These engagements are intended to provide participants with opportunities to explore regional history, literature, traditions and shared cultural themes.
Thirukkural and Contemporary Learning
The choice of Thirukkural places a classical literary work at the centre of the programme. Its short couplets address questions of ethical conduct, social responsibility, governance, friendship and personal discipline.
Organisers plan to use educational engagement and multilingual learning resources to introduce the text to wider groups of students. The initiative also includes activities intended to encourage reading and discussion beyond specialist language and literature courses.
The wider educational objective is to connect literary heritage with contemporary learning, allowing students to examine how classical works are interpreted and applied in modern contexts.
Outreach Beyond the Main Event
The programme is not limited to the participants travelling between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. Plans include engagement across approximately 1,000 higher education institutions, alongside activities in schools and colleges in Varanasi.
Thirukkural experts from Tamil Nadu are expected to participate in orientation sessions and interactive learning activities. The National Book Trust and the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya are also associated with planned reading, storytelling and creative activities in schools.
These initiatives could extend the programme’s reach to students who do not directly participate in the main exchange.
What Students Should Know
The programme’s schedule includes institutional assessments, selection and subsequent confirmation steps. Prospective participants should follow the official portal for eligibility criteria, deadlines, selection information and instructions.
The announced programme dates may be subject to change, and students should not assume that opening the portal guarantees selection or participation.