Present at the event will be Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Union Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
During his two-day visit to his constituency, Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate 37 projects valued at over Rs 19,000 crore for Varanasi and Purvanchal. Additionally, he will be flagging off a new train from Kanyakumari to Varanasi.
Varanasi Division Commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma stated, "The preparations for PM Modi's visit are in the final stage. The arrangements at the venues of his programs and his stay are also almost done. The main event is the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched the second edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam at the Namo Ghat in Varanasi. Simultaneously, he flagged off the Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express connecting the city of Kashi Vishwanath to Kanyakumari.
In his inaugural address at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, Prime Minister Modi highlighted, "Today, new technology has been incorporated here through Artificial Intelligence (AI). This marks a new beginning, and hopefully, it makes it easier for me to reach you."
Referring to the AI-based Tamil translation of his speech through Bhashini for the Tamil-speaking audience, PM Modi expressed, "You all have come here as members of my family rather than just guests. I welcome you all to the Kashi Tamil Sangamam."
He continued, "Going from Tamil Nadu to Varanasi is akin to moving from Mahadev's one home to another. That's why the bond between the people of Tamil Nadu and Varanasi is special."
Giving credit to ancient philosophers like Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya for shaping the idea of India as a nation, the Prime Minister emphasized, "In other countries, the nation has been a political definition, but India as a nation 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."
Expressing his satisfaction, PM Modi stated, "I am pleased that the Banaras Hindu University and IIT Madras have collaborated to make the Kashi Tamil Sangamam a success. IIT Madras has initiated the 'Vidya Shakti' program to assist students from Kashi in maths and science. These initiatives demonstrate the special relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu."
Addressing the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended gratitude to the Prime Minister, stating, "Organizing the Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi is the result of PM Modi's vision. This is contributing to the 'Sangam' of North and South."
The Kashi Tamil Sangamam, scheduled from December 17 to 31, will witness the participation of 1,400 dignitaries from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. According to an official statement, they are scheduled to visit Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya.
The program will also showcase cultural events highlighting the unique traditions of Kashi and Tamil Nadu with the aim of strengthening ties between the people of these two regions, the statement said.
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.