New Delhi, 15 January (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Pongal on Thursday by lauding the expansion of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam as a powerful catalyst fortifying India's cultural oneness, transforming into a vibrant platform that interconnects traditions, languages, and communities while deepening the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' ethos.

In a Tamil-language article and separate posts on social media platform X, PM Modi described the initiative as a living testament to unity within diversity, fostering cultural dialogue and mutual respect across India's regions.

Somnath Interactions Underscore Initiative's Reach

Recalling his recent Somnath Yatra, PM Modi noted interactions with citizens from diverse regions who praised Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam for exemplifying cultural connectivity's role in national cohesion. He detailed the initiative's genesis and import: inaugurated in 2022, it drew Tamil Nadu scholars, artisans, students, farmers, writers, and professionals to Kashi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya, with subsequent editions amplifying its scope and resonance.

PM Modi expressed profound regard for Tamil language and culture—lamenting his inability to learn it as a personal void—while highlighting governmental efforts to popularize Tamil heritage nationwide.

Historic Ties Bind Eternal Cities

PM Modi invoked deep historical and spiritual linkages between Kashi and Tamil Nadu: the sacred nexus of Kashi's Vishwanath and Ramanathaswamy in Tamil Nadu, Tenkasi's moniker as 'South Kashi,' and luminaries like saint Kumaragurupara Swamigal and poet Subramania Bharati who enriched these bonds.

Rooted in India's Sangam tradition of confluence, the initiative celebrates unity amid distinct identities, with Kashi as civilization's perennial hub attracting seekers of knowledge, experience, and spiritual solace for centuries.

Future as Cultural Integration Vanguard

Such endeavors, PM Modi affirmed, cement enduring inter-regional ties while enhancing cultural comprehension, poised to grow more impactful and invigorate 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.' This Pongal reflection aligns with PM Modi's packed Thursday—from CSPOC inauguration extolling democracy's last-mile welfare and Army Day tributes invoking Sanskrit valour, to impending Startup India decennial—amid Himachal's tragic blaze and Bangladesh cricket's boardroom mutiny.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar