Prahlad Joshi launches registration portal for Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0

Union Minister of Education Prahlad Joshi has launched the registration portal for the fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam, KTS 5.0, which will be held from 28 November to 12 December, 2026. While strengthening the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, this event will celebrate and reaffirm the ancient civilizational ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.

Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Joshi said that the country has had strong cultural unity since ancient times. As part of religious traditions, many people visit Kashi and Rameshwaram, demonstrating the deep cultural connections between North and South India. The event will bring together students, teachers, writers, professionals, farmers, artists, women, and spiritual scholars on a single platform. Through academic outreach in higher education institutions, students will be introduced to the objectives of the Sangamam.

The theme for KTS 5.0 is ‘Thirukkural Payilvom – Studying Thirukkural’. This edition will attempt to bring the moral and ethical wisdom of the classical Tamil text ‘Thirukkural’ to the youth and learners across the country. Through academic engagement, multilingual resources, and public outreach, people will be encouraged to read, understand, and implement the universal values of the text in their lives.

Approximately 1,400 participants from Tamil Nadu will participate in seven groups, with 200 individuals in each. Their eight-day journey will consist of four days of travel and four days of visits and structured programs. The event will include Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya, and will feature cultural, academic, field-specific, and spiritual engagements.

Interested applicants can register from 22 October, 2026, to 13 November, 2026, on the portal https://kashitamil.iitm.ac.in/ hosted by IIT Madras. Applications will be accepted in seven categories: students, teachers, writers and media professionals, agriculture and allied sectors, professionals and artisans, women, and spiritual leaders.

The first Kashi Tamil Sangamam was held in 2022. Since then, four editions have accelerated the exchange of knowledge, language, traditions, and life experiences between the two regions. The event is organized by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, in collaboration with IIT Madras, Banaras Hindu University, Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Chennai, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and various central government departments and ministries.