Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 to be built around the Thirukkural, with Banaras Hindu University as host

3 November 2026

A high-level meeting at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, reviewed preparations for Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0, organised by the Ministry of Education. The theme is Thirukkural Payilvom - Thirukkural Abhyas Karen, built around the Tamil classic Thirukkural. The programme runs from 28 November to 12 December 2026 at Varanasi. About 1,400 participants will travel from Tamil Nadu in seven groups of about 200 each, on an eight-day journey covering Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya. Fifty teachers from Tamil Nadu will teach the Thirukkural in schools and colleges in Uttar Pradesh. A students' engagement programme will run across 1,000 higher education institutions. IIT Madras and BHU are the nodal coordinating institutions for Tamil Nadu and Kashi, while the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Chennai, leads digital outreach and publications. The review was chaired by Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education.