Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Somnath Swabhiman Parv on January 11 at the historic Somnath Temple in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region.
The event will celebrate the resilience of Indian civilisation, which rebuilt the temple repeatedly after foreign invasions.
Officials confirmed that year-long celebrations are planned at the temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, with spiritual and social activities scheduled between January 8 and 11. In a blogpost marking 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath in 1026, Modi hailed the temple as a shining example of India’s indomitable spirit.
He said, “There can be no better example of our civilisation’s indomitable spirit than Somnath, which stands gloriously, overcoming odds and struggle.”
Modi recalled that the temple was attacked and plundered multiple times, including by Mahmud Ghazni in 1024 AD, yet it rose again as a symbol of courage. He praised Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for initiating its reconstruction after Independence, noting that Dr Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the rebuilt temple in 1951. Modi remarked that Patel’s vision stood tall even though he did not live to see its opening.
The Prime Minister linked Somnath’s story to India’s present-day progress, saying the same spirit drives the nation’s growth. He highlighted India’s global contributions in art, culture, yoga, Ayurveda, and innovation, stressing that the world now looks to India with hope and optimism.
Modi added, “Somnath is a song of hope that tells us that while hate and fanaticism may destroy for a moment, faith and conviction in goodness create for eternity.” He concluded by affirming that with the blessings of Somnath Mahadev, India will move forward with renewed resolve to build a Viksit Bharat.
