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The Times of India
The Times of India
National
Neha Lalchandani | TNN

Indian culture preserved equally in Kashi & Tamil Nadu: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

LUCKNOW: Drawing a parallel between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that Indian culture has been equally preserved in the ancient city and Tamil Nadu.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi on Saturday, the CM said that through the Sangamam, people would get to witness the centuries-old bond of knowledge and ancient civilizational connect between the North and South.

The CM said that among the two languages that are believed to have emerged from the mouth of Lord Shiva, Tamil and Sanskrit are equally known for their rich literature.

The CM began his address in Tamil, in which he welcomed people to Varanasi for the event. “Ungalai Kashiil Varaveri Kirom (Welcome to Kashi),” he said, adding that the event would work towards strengthening the PM’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. He said that through an event like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, visitors from Tamil Nadu would get a chance to become acquainted with the rich cultural heritage of UP. It would, therefore, also contribute to strengthening our cultural unity of the North and South, he said.

“The holy jyotirlingas which were installed by Lord Ram at Shri Rameswaram and Adi Vishweshwar in Kashi are worshipped as holy jyotirlingas. Both the jyotirlingas are central to the relationship between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu. Adi Shankaracharya took forward this relationship, established by Shri Ram and Lord Shiva by setting up holy peeths in all four corners of India. Now, PM Modi is taking forward this ‘mahayagya’ with full force,” he said.

Linking Varanasi with the South, the CM said that there is an ancient temple of Lord Vishwanath in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu. Tenkasi means Kashi of the South, he said and added that due to the religious importance of Kashi, people from all parts of the country have been visiting the city for millennia.

“Varanasi remains the centre of religion, culture and spiritual consciousness of India. Similarly, Tamil Nadu has been the centre of knowledge, art and culture since ancient times. This was taken forward by the Pandyas, Cholas, Pallavas, among others. All elements of Indian culture are equally preserved in Kashi and Tamil Nadu,” the CM said.

During the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, 12 groups of students, teachers, crafts persons, litterateurs from Tamil Nadu, including experts from sectors such as spirituality, industry, heritage, innovation, business, temple system, rural background and culture, will visit Varanasi and interact with subject experts. During their visit, the groups will also visit Prayagraj and Ayodhya.

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