New Delhi, 05 January (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat’s iconic Somnath Temple on January 11, officials confirmed Monday, officially inaugurating the year-long Somnath Swabhiman Parv—a nationwide commemoration marking 1,000 years since the shrine’s first recorded assault in January 1026 AD by Mahmud of Ghazni.

The Swabhiman Parv will feature a series of spiritual discourses, cultural festivals, and social outreach programs at Prabhas Patan from January 8 to 11, highlighting India’s civilizational resilience through repeated reconstructions led by figures such as Nagabhata II, Ahilyabai Holkar, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s historic 1947 revival.

In a recent op-ed, Prime Minister Modi described Somnath as the “unbreakable courage of Bharat Mata’s children,” symbolizing faith triumphing over destruction. He noted that despite 17 recorded invasions, Somnath endures as the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas and a thriving economic and cultural hub.

The redevelopment under Modi’s leadership includes the Somnath Sea View Path, an Exhibition Centre, and the Ahilyabai Holkar Temple complex, reinforcing the temple’s significance in India’s heritage revival.

The year 2026 also marks 75 years since the temple’s post-independence reconstruction was completed and opened to devotees, linking the Swabhiman Parv to the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and India’s 75 years of sovereignty.

The event underscores the nation’s commitment to preserving its cultural legacy and celebrating the spirit of resilience that Somnath embodies.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit and the launch of the Swabhiman Parv are set to galvanize nationwide reflection on India’s enduring civilizational strength, faith, and the power of collective memory in overcoming adversity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar