Gandinagar, Jan 10 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday offered prayers at the historic Somnath temple, revered as the first among the twelve Aadi Jyotirlingas of Shiva and a cornerstone of India’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
The PM received a rousing welcome on his arrival at the temple to attend the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, being held from January 8 to 11, marking 1,000 years of faith and India’s civilisational history. Thousands of devotees thronged the temple participating in the celebrations with zeal and devotion.
PM Modi said he felt “blessed” to be at Somnath, describing the temple as a proud symbol of India’s civilisational courage.
“Feeling blessed to be in Somnath, a proud symbol of our civilisational courage. This visit comes during #SomnathSwabhimanParv, when the entire nation has come together to mark a thousand years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026. Grateful to the people for the warm welcome,” the Prime Minister wrote.
Addressing devotees at the temple, Modi described “Om as the very foundation of India’s spiritual and philosophical tradition, saying it embodies the essence of the Vedas, Shastras, Puranas, Upanishads, and Vedanta.”
“Om is the root of meditation and the foundation of yoga. Om is the ultimate goal of spiritual practice,” he said. “Om represents the cosmic sound — Brahman itself. He noted that Hindu mantras traditionally begin and end with Om, symbolising completeness, harmony, and universal consciousness.”
Recalling his participation in the spiritual rituals of the Parv, the PM said he was fortunate to join a collective chanting of the Omkar sound for 1,000 seconds.
“The energy of that chanting made my inner self vibrate and filled me with immense joy,” he said, underlining the timeless spiritual power of India’s ancient traditions.
Reflecting on the temple’s turbulent past, PM Modi said Somnath temple had been destroyed many times and rebuilt again and again, yet it never lost its sanctity or significance.
“Despite repeated destruction, Somnath temple always rose again with resilience,” he said, describing the shrine as a living symbol of faith, perseverance, and cultural continuity.
He emphasised that Somnath today stands not only as a sacred place of worship but also as a symbol of communal harmony, mutual brotherhood, and faith in abundance, transcending divisions and reminding people of shared spiritual values.
On January 11 (Sunday), PM Modi will participate in the Shaurya Yatra at around 9:45 am, a ceremonial procession honouring the countless warriors who sacrificed their lives defending the Somnath temple. The procession will feature a symbolic march of 108 horses, representing valour and sacrifice.
At around 10:15 am, the Prime Minister will perform darshan and pooja at the temple, followed by a public address at approximately 11 am.
“Jai Somnath! Today’s welcome was very special,” PM Modi said.
The Somnath Swabhiman Parv commemorates the 1,000th anniversary of Mahmud of Ghazni’s first attack on the temple in 1026, which marked the beginning of a long period during which the temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.
he cycle of destruction and revival remains unparalleled in world history, demonstrating that Somnath was never merely a stone structure but a living embodiment of belief, identity, and civilisational pride.
Somnath continues to be a centre of active worship, with annual footfall ranging between 92 and 97 lakh devotees. Nearly 98 lakh pilgrims visited the temple in 2020 alone. Rituals such as Bilva Pooja attract over 13.77 lakh devotees, while Maha Shivratri 2025 witnessed the participation of 3.56 lakh devotees.
On Diwali day, Kartak Sud 1 (November 12, 1947), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the ruins of Somnath and resolved to rebuild the temple, viewing its restoration as essential to reviving India’s cultural confidence. The reconstruction, carried out with public participation, culminated in the consecration of the present temple on
This year also marks 75 years of that historic consecration, reaffirming India’s civilisational self-respect.
Majestically located along the Arabian Sea, the Somnath Temple complex is crowned by a 150-foot shikhar, symbolising enduring faith and national resolve.
Cultural initiatives have strengthened devotees’ connection with Somnath’s history. The Light and Sound Show, launched in 2003 and enhanced in 2017 with narration and 3D laser technology, has attracted over 10 lakh visitors in the past three years. Programmes such as the Vande Somnath Kala Mahotsav have revived dance traditions dating back nearly 1,500 years.
Under the leadership of PM Modi, who also serves as Chairperson of the Shri Somnath Trust, the temple has entered a new phase of revival. Governance reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and heritage conservation efforts have further strengthened Somnath’s role as a vibrant spiritual and cultural centre of India.