The Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 4.0) will take place from December 2 to 10, 2025 . Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi host the event. Over 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu will participate. The program aims to strengthen cultural and linguistic ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, under the theme ‘Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam’.
Registrations for KTS 4.0 closed on November 21, 2025 . Shortlisted candidates must take an online quiz on November 23, 2025 , between 10 AM and 5 PM. This quiz determines selection for most delegate categories.
A separate selection process is underway for 300 college students. These students will participate in a 15-day educational immersion program in Tamil Nadu. This program is scheduled for the third week of December 2025.
Delegates represent seven categories. These include students, teachers, writers, media professionals, agriculture and allied sector workers, professionals and artisans, women, and spiritual scholars and practitioners.
The KTS 4.0 program features an eight-day experiential tour. It covers Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya. Activities include seminars, academic interactions, and cultural performances. Delegates will experience local cuisine, handicrafts, and heritage.
In Varanasi, delegates will visit several Tamil heritage sites. These include Mahakavi Subramanya Bharatiyar’s ancestral house, Kedar Ghat, and the Kasi Madam. They will also visit Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Mata Annapurna Temple, and the Tamil Department at BHU.
Key Initiatives Under KTS 4.0
Sage Agasthya Vehicle Expedition
- The expedition runs from December 2, 2025 , in Tenkasi to December 10, 2025 , in Kashi.
- It traces ancient cultural routes between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
- The expedition highlights civilisational links from historical periods. These include Chera, Chola, Pandya, Pallava, Chalukya, and Vijayanagara.
- According to an official press release, the expedition signifies efforts by Pandiyan ruler Shri Adi Veera Parakrama Pandiyan to promote unity. He journeyed from Tamil Nadu to Kashi and built a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, renaming Tenkasi as Dakshin Kashi.
Teaching Tamil in Uttar Pradesh Schools
- Fifty Tamil teachers will teach Tamil to school students in Kashi.
- This initiative operates under the “Tamil Karkalam” campaign.
Tamil Learning Study Tours for Uttar Pradesh Students
- Three hundred college students from Kashi will visit Tamil Nadu.
- They will participate in a 15-day Tamil learning program.
- The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) Chennai organizes this program.
- Host institutions will conduct academic and cultural tours. These tours will highlight Tamil Nadu’s heritage and historical ties with Kashi.
An official press release states that KTS 4.0 aims to strengthen national integration. It facilitates cultural exchange, linguistic enrichment, and knowledge-sharing. The program offers participants a platform to engage with India’s civilisational heritage.