Chennai: The third phase of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s unique initiative to enable overseas Tamils from various countries their families and kids stay in touch with their roots in the State to promote culture and tradition and understand the Tamil lifestyle, will kick off on December 29, thereby making them as cultural ambassadors.
The programme was aimed at bringing the students from Tamil diaspora abroad to visit various heritage and historically significant sites to understand the state’s rich heritage, culture and tradition.
An official release here said the Chief Minister had announced that 200 young students and children of Tamils will be selected and brought for a cultural tour of Tamil Nadu as a part of an initiative every year to renew connections with their roots in the state.
Based on this, the cultural tour program is being conducted by the Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Department under the name of “Reaching Your Roots (Vergalai Thedi)”.
A total of 157 Tamil youths have participated in the program so far. During December 2023, 57 youth from Australia, Fiji, Sri Lanka and Canada took part in the first trip and in August 2024, 100 participants from South Africa, Uganda, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Fiji, Indonesia, Mauritius, Australia, Maldives, Canada, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, France and Germany took part in the program.
Their visit to historically significant sites across the state is arranged, providing an immersive experience designed to instil a deep appreciation for the rich heritage and cultural pride of Tamil Nadu.
Different aspects of Tamil language, Tamil culture, Tamil lifestyle and architecture were expounded there.
Upon completion of the program, these participants act as Cultural Ambassadors aiding in bridging Tamil Nadu with their respective countries through several activities including education and business collaborations, spreading Tamil language education and other cultural endeavours.
In continuation of this, the third phase of the trip is scheduled to be implemented for a period of 15 days from December 29 to January 12, 2025.
As part of this cultural tour program, participants will be taken to several sites of historical and cultural significance including Kallanai Dam, the Thiruvalluvar Statue, VOC Memorial, Keeladi archaeological sites, Pamban bridge, Chittannavasal, Kanadu Kathan Palace, Saraswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur Lord Brahadeeswara Temple, Dharasuram Temple, and Mamallapuram Temples, listed in UNESO heritage sites.
The cultural tour program will include workshops, information sessions and cultural activities for the participants, who will also take part in the grand 25th year anniversary
celebrations commemorating the opening of Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanniyakumari on
January 1, 2025.
Their trip which begins in Chennai will cover about 15 districts including Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Karaikudi, and Thanjavur.
The tour will end with the students participating in the grand celebration of ‘World Tamil
Diaspora Day 2025’ that is scheduled to happen on January 11 and 12, 2025.
The TN Government is inviting the Tamil youth from abroad who want to participate in
this trip and asked them to register on official website of the department.
