Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday  inaugurated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, a month-long programme aimed to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.

While speaking at the inaugration, PM drew a linkage between the country’s cultural capital ‘Kashi’ and the center of India’s antiquity and pride, ‘Tamil Nadu’ while terming their century-old shared bond, Sangam, as holy as of Ganga and Yamuna.

During his address, Modi highlighted the traditional bond of knowledge and ancient civilisational connections between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. “On the one hand, Kashi is our cultural capital, covering the whole of India, and on the other hand, there is Tamil Nadu and Tamil culture, the center of India’s antiquity and pride,” PM Modi said.

Pointing out the influence of ‘Sangams’ in our Country during the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, PM Modi said, “Sangams have been given great glory and importance in our country. From the Sangams of rivers to thoughts-ideologies, knowledge-science and societies-cultures, we have celebrated every Sangam”.

On the sidelines of the event, Prime Minister Modi will also release books on Tirukkural and Kashi-Tamil culture.

As per Uttar Pradesh government officials, the month-long Sangamam will showcase Tamil literature, education, culture and cuisine. Guests from Tamil Nadu will visit Kashi, and also Ayodhya and Prayagraj.

A total of 75 stalls have been set up in Kashi Tamil Sangamam, which will run till December 16, acting as a bridge between South India and North India through agriculture, culture, literature, music, food, handloom and handicraft, and folk art.

Prime Minister Modi will honour nine prominent religious leaders of Tamil Nadu which include, Shrimad Manikkavachak Tambiran, Swami Shivkar Desikar, Srilashree Satya Gyan Mahadev Deshik Paramacharya Swamigal, Shiv Prakash Desik Satya Gyan Pandar Sannadi, Sri Sivagnan Balaya Swamigal, Gyanprakash Desikar, Shivalingeshwar Swami Kandaswamy, Mayakrishnan Swamy and Muthu Sivaramaswamy.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were also present.

(With Inputs from ANI)