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PM Narendra Modi said 2026 marks 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath and celebrations showcase resilience of the Indian civilisation that rebuilt the temple in Gujarat
PM Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on January 11 to join the Somnath Swabhiman Parv to mark 1,000 years since the first attack on the historic temple. (Image: PTI/File)
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to visit on January 11 to join the Somnath Swabhiman Parv at the historic temple in Gujarat, he took a swipe at Jawaharlal Nehru claiming the opening of the temple in 1951 did not enthuse him.
Modi said 2026 marks 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath, and the celebrations will showcase the resilience of the Indian civilisation that rebuilt the temple in Gujarat.
The year-long celebrations are being planned at the temple dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva on the Arabian Sea coast at Veraval in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region. Many spiritual and social activities will take place from January 8 to 11, as per officials.
In a blogpost to mark 1,000 years, Modi hailed the temple as a symbol of the indomitable spirit of Indian civilisation.
“There can be no better example of our civilisation’s indomitable spirit than Somnath, which stands gloriously, overcoming odds and struggle,” he said.
He recalled that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a key role in rebuilding the Somnath temple after Independence. “A visit during Diwali time in 1947 moved him so much that he announced that the temple will be rebuilt there. Finally, on May 11th 1951, a grand Temple in Somnath opened its doors to devotees and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was present there,” he added.
The prime minister said Sardar Patel was not alive to see the opening on May 11, 1951, but the fulfilment of his dream stood tall before the nation.
“The then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was not too enthused with this development. He did not want the Honourable President as well as Ministers to associate with this special event. He said that this event created a bad impression of India. But Dr Rajendra Prasad stood firm and the rest is history,” he said.
He said it has been 1,000 years since the first attack on the temple took place and despite repeated attacks subsequently, the temple stands tall.
“This is because Somnath’s story is about the unbreakable courage of countless children of Bharat Mata who protected our culture and civilisation,” he said.
The PM said it was the same spirit that was visible in the nation, which has emerged as one of the brightest spots of global growth having overcome centuries of invasions and colonial loot.
“It is our value systems and the determination of our people that have made India the centre of global attention today. The world is seeing India with hope and optimism. They want to invest in our innovative youngsters,” he said. “Our art, culture, music and several festivals are going global. Yoga and Ayurveda are making a worldwide impact, boosting healthy living. Solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges are coming from India.”
The Somnath temple was attacked and plundered many times, including by Turkish ruler Mahmud Ghazni in 1024 AD.
(With PTI inputs)
Gujarat, India, India
January 05, 2026, 16:48 IST
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