Varanasi, 11 May

(HS): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “1000 years ago,

foreign invaders, including Mahmud Ghaznavi, attacked the Somnath Temple 17

times, attempting to destroy its splendor. They were under the illusion that by

destroying the idols and plundering its splendor, they could destroy India's

eternal spirit forever.”

The Chief Minister

was addressing the Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav held at the Trimbakeshwar Multipurpose

Hall of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Monday. Referring to the

Somnath Swabhiman Parv, the glorious saga of unwavering faith, the

Chief Minister recalled the attack on the Somnath Temple by foreign invaders,

noting that not only the Somnath Mahadev Temple but also the Kashi Vishwanath

Dham, along with thousands of other religious and cultural sites across India,

were attacked. Despite this, India's eternal tradition and cultural consciousness

remain vibrant.

The Chief Minister said that both the Somnath

Temple and the Kashi Vishwanath Dham are symbols of India's history and the

indomitable power of Sanatan culture. Sanatan culture may be attacked, but it

can never be defeated. Destruction is temporary, while creation is eternal. At

the festival, schoolgirls welcomed Governor Anandiben Patel and the Chief

Minister amid conch blowing and chanting. Guests paid obeisance and offered

floral tributes to Somnath Mahadev.

On this occasion,

the crowd chanted Om. After this, the Somnath Sankalp was recited

collectively. The Chief Minister also recited the Sankalp. During this, the

devotees and guests present also recited it collectively.

At the festival, the

Chief Minister presented a turban and a Rudraksha garland to Governor Anandiben

Patel. After this, Varanasi Mayor Ashok Tiwari presented a turban and a

Rudraksha garland to the Chief Minister. The Governor and the Chief Minister

also visited the exhibition organized in the multipurpose hall of the Shri

Kashi-Vishwanath Temple complex on the completion of 75 years of the Somnath

Temple. Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar, Minister of State Hansraj Vishwakarma,

District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya, Cantt MLA Saurabh Srivastava and

other public representatives were also present at the function.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi