On the auspicious eve of Ramnavami, on Apr.5, Raj Bhavan hosted a grand Kamba Ramayana festival, celebrating the Tamil epic and its cultural significance. The event drew a large gathering of over 500 participants, including distinguished Tamil scholars from Tamil Nadu and various parts of the world, along with representatives from more than 40 Kambar Kazhagams spanning Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
A highlight of the festival was the felicitation of 35 renowned Tamil scholars, honoring their lifelong dedication to preserving and propagating Tamil culture and literature through their profound engagement with the Kamba Ramayana. The festival featured insightful talks by distinguished Tamil scholars who illuminated diverse aspects of the Kamba Ramayana.
Renowned artists also presented captivating performances and exhibits depicting key episodes from the Ramayana. Raj Bhavan also initiated the republication of the Tamil epic Kamba Ramayana. This comprehensive 9-volume monumental work by Kavi Chakravarthi Kambar was released on the same day.
This event forms part of a larger statewide Kamba Ramayana Vizha, designed to encourage broad public engagement, including the participation of thousands of school and college students across Tamil Nadu. The celebrations are set to culminate on Apr.12, marking Kambar Arangatram, the historic day when Kavi Chakravarthi Kambar first recited the Kamba Ramayana.
