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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the nation on the commencement of Somnath Swabhiman Parv, which began on Thursday. He paid his tribute to the unbroken spirit and faith of millions associated with the Somnath Temple in Gujarat.
Notably, the Somnath Swabhiman Parv marks the 1,000th anniversary of the temple's first recorded attack in January 1026. He took to X and wrote, "The Somnath Swabhiman Parv is commencing auspiciously from today. A thousand years ago, in January 1026, the Somnath Temple endured the first attack in its history. The attack of the year 1026 and the numerous assaults that followed thereafter could not shake our eternal faith."
Sharing some visits from his previous visits to the Somnath Temple, he wrote, "On the contrary, these strengthened the sentiment of India's cultural unity, and the Somnath Temple was repeatedly revived and rebuilt."
Emphasising the significance of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, PM Modi wrote that it "is a festival to remember those countless sons of Mother India who never compromised on their principles and values. No matter how difficult and terrifying the times may have been, their resolve always remained unwavering. Their loyalty to our civilization and cultural consciousness remained unbroken. This occasion of a thousand years of unbroken faith inspires us to remain constantly committed to efforts for the unity of the nation."
PM Modi also shared some glimpses of a program organised in Somnath on October 31, 2001. He wrote, "That was the year when we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Somnath Temple, which was reconstructed in 1951. In 1951, that historic ceremony was held in the presence of the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad Ji."
Lauding its reconstruction, he said, "The efforts of great personalities, including Sardar Patel and KM Munshi Ji, in the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple were extremely commendable. In this program of the year 2001, the then Prime Minister Atal Ji, Home Minister Advani Ji and many dignitaries had participated."
The Somnath Swabhiman Parv will end on January 11 in a special programme, which PM Modi is scheduled to attend. The celebration will honour the strength shown by those who have preserved and restored the temple against all odds.
