‘Religion may face crises, but it’s never permanent… Today, it has triumphed’: Vice-President Radhakrishnan in Varanasi

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the event. Radhakrishnan recalled his first visit to Kashi 25 years ago and said the city changed him: after bathing in the Ganga, he adopted a vegetarian lifestyle. “There is a vast difference between the Kashi of 25 years ago and the Kashi of today. This transformation has been possible only because of the two karma yogis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,” he said.

The Vice-President said that the new dharamshala is not just a building but “ a new chapter in the cultural bond between North and South India.”

Radhakrishnan said that this building will further strengthen the centuries-old ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. Tamil scholars, poets, and devotees have long journeyed to Kashi in search of knowledge and spiritual enlightenment. Kanwar Guru and great poet Subramania Bharati made this place their home.

Radhakrishnan also invoked the sanctity of Kashi, describing its many temples and the continuous chanting of sacred mantras that give the city its distinct character. He said the institution, founded in 1863 to serve Tamil devotees visiting Kashi, continues to fulfil that role today.

Referring to recent cultural initiatives, he mentioned the return of the idol of Annapurna Devi and events such as the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, and said these developments reflect a broader spiritual revival under the current leadership.

Speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the scale of recent investment in the city’s infrastructure. He said projects worth about Rs 51,000 crore have been approved in recent years, of which approximately Rs 34,000 crore have been completed and inaugurated by the Prime Minister, while work on projects exceeding Rs 16,000 crore remains under way.