PM Modi inaugurates 2nd edition of ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the second edition of ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ at Namo Ghat in Varanasi.

• The first phase of Kashi Tamil Sangamam was organised from November 16 to December 16, 2022.

• The PM flagged off the Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express between Varanasi and Kanyakumari.

• The Sangamam is being held from December 17-31 and will see the participation of 1,400 dignitaries from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

• The seven groups of students (Ganga), teachers (Yamuna), professionals (Godavari), spiritual (Saraswati), farmers and artisans (Narmada), writers (Sindhu) and traders and businessmen (Kaveri) have been named after seven sacred rivers of India will travel from Chennai, Coimbatore and Kanyakumari to Kashi

• It aims at rediscovering, reaffirming and celebrating the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, two of the country’s most important and ancient seats of learning. The first edition was a month-long event organised last year.

• The Union ministry of education is the nodal agency for this event. 

• The programme is part of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ that portrays unity among the cultural diversity of various states and Union Territories.

Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat

• The ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ programme, aims to actively enhance interaction between people of diverse cultures living in different states and UTs in India, with the objective of promoting greater mutual understanding amongst them.

• It aims to foster national integration by a coordinated mutual engagement process between states, Union Territories, central ministries, educational institutions and the general public through linguistic, literary, cultural, sports, tourism and other forms of people to people exchanges.

• The programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, 2015.

• The ministry of education coordinates its implementation.

• As per the programme, each year, every state/UT would be paired with another state/UT for reciprocal interaction between the people. 

• It is envisaged through this exchange, that the knowledge of the language, culture, traditions and practices of different states will lead to an enhanced understanding and bonding between one another, thereby strengthening the unity and integrity of India. 

• The states and UTs are to embark on a mission to enhance their cultural, academic and economic ties by entering into a wide range of mutual engagements with the paired states/UTs covering the spheres of music, drama, cuisine, language, history, tourism and other forms of exchange between the people.

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