Tue Mar 18 16:07:08 UTC 2025: ## Union Minister Launches Statewide Initiative to Promote Kamba Ramayana in Tamil Nadu
**Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu – March 18, 2025** – Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched a statewide initiative on Tuesday to promote the Kamba Ramayana, a significant Tamil adaptation of the epic Ramayana. The initiative, spearheaded by the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), aims to revive the oral tradition of Kamba Ramayana recitals and highlight its cultural impact.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Kaatazhagiya Singaperumal temple in Srirangam, Tiruchi, Minister Shekhawat emphasized the Ramayana’s enduring legacy, spanning the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. He noted the epic’s influence on religious practices, art, and literature, and highlighted the profound connection between Valmiki’s Sanskrit version and Kambar’s Tamil adaptation, showcasing India’s cultural diversity and unity.
The SZCC’s initiative is structured in three phases. Phase I will feature performances in prominent temples across Tamil Nadu. Phase II will be a week-long Kamba Ramayana festival at Kambarmedu, the birthplace of poet Kambar, featuring continuous recitals, dance dramas, and scholarly discussions. Phase III will involve statewide workshops and competitions in schools and colleges to engage students with the Kamba Ramayana, culminating in a grand finale at Kambarmedu during Dussehra celebrations. The Minister expressed confidence that this initiative would contribute significantly to the preservation and propagation of this important literary and cultural treasure.
First Piper 