Jaipur, May 11 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday said that the Somnath Temple stands as a powerful symbol of India’s Sanatan culture, national self-respect and unwavering faith.
He said that despite repeated attacks and destruction by foreign invaders, the temple was rebuilt each time with even greater grandeur, reflecting the resilience and spirit of Indian civilisation.
Addressing the “Somnath Swabhiman Parv” programme at Jharkhand Mahadev Temple, the Chief Minister said it is the collective responsibility of society to preserve India’s rich heritage, culture and values and pass them on to future generations.
He called upon the youth to embrace Indian cultural traditions and contribute towards building a strong and self-reliant India.
During the programme, the Chief Minister joined the “Somnath Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations at Somnath Temple in Gujarat through video conferencing and listened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address delivered in the presence of dignitaries.
Marking 75 years of the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple, Prime Minister Modi visited the temple in Gujarat on Monday, where he was accorded a grand welcome with traditional conch shell and drum performances.
The Prime Minister performed rituals and offered prayers for the nation’s prosperity and well-being.
The celebrations also featured a flypast by the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team over the Somnath Temple.
Prime Minister Modi also paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and said the “Somnath Amrit Mahotsav” is not merely a remembrance of history but also an inspiration for India’s future over the next thousand years.
He noted that India’s cultural continuity has become a major source of confidence and strength for the country.
Chief Minister Sharma said the Somnath Temple, revered as the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a major spiritual centre for millions of devotees.
He noted that celebrations marking 75 years of the temple’s reconstruction are being organised across the country with devotion and enthusiasm.
Recalling historical events, the Chief Minister said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had resolved to rebuild the Somnath Temple after Independence, considering it a symbol of India’s self-respect.
He added that the temple’s consecration ceremony was performed in 1951 by India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad.
The Chief Minister stated that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the vision of “Development as well as Heritage” is being implemented across the country through the preservation and development of religious and cultural sites.
He said projects such as the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Kedardham redevelopment and Mahakal Lok have strengthened India’s cultural consciousness.
Sharma also noted that Prime Minister Modi, as Chairman of the Somnath Trust, has played a significant role in the development and preservation of the Somnath Temple.
He further announced that special puja ceremonies would be conducted over the next 1,000 days.
The Chief Minister said the Rajasthan government has taken several decisions over the past two-and-a-half years to promote spiritual development and religious tourism in the state.
He highlighted initiatives including heritage walkways in Pushkar, Khatushyamji, Nathdwara, Keshoraipatan, Deeg and Chittorgarh; conservation of the Kiradu temple complex; and development of model access roads in major pilgrimage centres such as Pushkar, Khatushyamji, Deshnok and Diggi.
He also said that thousands of senior citizens are benefiting from pilgrimage tours under the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme through air and AC train travel facilities.
The Chief Minister said the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple demonstrates that the power of creation is always greater than destruction.
“It is the nature of our culture that we neither bow nor break; rather, we emerge stronger after every challenge,” he said.
He added that cleanliness, integrity, education, environmental protection, respect for women and service to the nation are integral parts of India’s cultural heritage.
Earlier, at the Jharkhand Mahadev Temple, the Chief Minister performed Jalabhishek and Panchamrit Abhishek and worshipped Lord Shiva amid Vedic chanting and traditional rituals, praying for peace, prosperity and well-being of the nation and the state.
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