The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Government and the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), has launched an ambitious initiative to revive and sustain the oral tradition of the Kamba Ramayana, a cornerstone of Tamil literature. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, inaugurated the program at the historic Sreerangam Temple in Trichy.
The program, divided into two phases, aims to promote the recitals of the Kamba Ramayana while preserving its cultural and literary significance. Phase I includes performances by cultural troupes at temples across Tamil Nadu, spanning locations such as Kumbakonam, Chengalpattu, and Thanjavur. Phase II, scheduled from March 30 to April 6, will feature a week-long festival at KambarMedu, the birthplace of Kambar, the author of this Tamil adaptation of the Ramayana.
The initiative also incorporates workshops, symposiums led by scholars, dance dramas, and educational competitions for students. These efforts aim to engage younger generations and ensure the transmission of this literary treasure to the future.
As part of the long-term vision, an annual Kamba Ramayana festival and a dedicated museum at KambarMedu are planned to sustain the legacy of this epic.
The SZCC, under the Ministry of Culture, is at the forefront of preserving Southern India’s heritage, fostering cultural understanding, and inspiring younger audiences to embrace traditional art forms.
