On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi opened the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, an event celebrating 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026. This program, which will continue till January 11, is taking place at the Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat. The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in Hinduism and has faced destruction and reconstruction many times throughout history.
Modi Launches Somnath Swabhiman Parv
The event marks the 1026 raid by Mahmud of Ghazni, a significant moment in the temple’s long and troubled past. During the launch, the PM shared messages that included Sanskrit verses and spoke about Somnath as a symbol of faith, resilience, and the continuity of civilization. He emphasized that the temple endured repeated destruction but always rebuilt through collective determination.
Temple will reconstructed
Modi pointed out the modern rebuilding of the temple after Independence, which was led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and funded entirely by public donations. The current structure inaugurated in 1951, with then President Rajendra Prasad placing the Shiv lingam. This event often highlighted as a key moment in the cultural revival after Independence.
This commemoration has sparked renewed discussions about the state’s role in the temple’s reconstruction. BJP leaders have referenced letters from 1951 written by Jawaharlal Nehru, where he expressed concerns about government involvement in religious ceremonies, citing secularism. Conversely, the Congress party argues that Nehru did not oppose the reconstruction itself and supported rebuilding the temple through private and non-governmental means.
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