NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked the history of Somnath Temple and how ancestors “had sacrificed their lives for the temple 1,000 years ago” and said, “The flag was hoisted at Somnath.” Mahadev Mandir shows the whole world the power of India and its capabilities.”“From Ghazni to Aurangzeb, all religious fundamentalists believed that they had won Somnath with their sword.” PM Modi said, adding that as time passes, “these fundamentalist invaders are now reduced to the pages of history, but the Somnath temple still stands tall.”Addressing a gathering during the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’, Prime Minister Modi said: “Those present here, your ancestors, our ancestors, laid down their lives for their faith, for their faith, for Mahadev – they sacrificed everything they had.”“When I interact with you, the question that always comes up is: What would the atmosphere have been like exactly 1000 years ago in the same place? Those present here, your ancestors, our ancestors, bet their lives for their faith, for their faith, for Mahadev – they sacrificed everything they had. A thousand years ago, the invaders thought they had defeated us, but today, even after 1000 years, the flag that stands in Somnath Mahadev Mandir “I want to extend India’s power and capabilities to the entire world,” said Prime Minister Modi.
Prime Minister Modi said during his speech.
The attack on the Somnath Temple marked the beginning of a long period in which the temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over centuries. Nevertheless, Somnath never ceased to exist in the collective consciousness of the people. The cycle of destruction and revival of the Temple is unprecedented in world history. It showed that Somnath was never just a stone structure but a living embodiment of faith, identity and pride in civilization.“The history of hate has been hidden”Claiming that the “real story of hatred, atrocities and terror has remained hidden”, Prime Minister Modi, without naming names, attacked the Congress-led government for “whitewashing the story” that highlights the multiple attacks on the temple on the Gujarat coast by Mughal invaders.“If Somnath was attacked because of his wealth, then the first attack was enough, but it was repeatedly attacked and his deity was desecrated,” Prime Minister Modi said. “The real story of hatred, atrocities and terror remained hidden from us; we were taught that the attack was an attempt to loot the Somnath Temple. Those involved in appeasement knelt before this religious extremism,” he said.Somnath Swabhiman ParvThe Somnath Swabhiman Parv, observed from January 8 to 11, 2026, commemorates the 1,000th anniversary. Anniversary of the first attack on the temple in 1026. This attack marked the beginning of a long period in which Somnath was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.Despite these repeated attacks, the temple remained deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of the people. His cycle of destruction and revival is often described as unique in world history and underscores Somnath’s enduring spiritual and cultural significance.Before his address, Prime Minister Modi offered prayers at the Somnath Temple after completing the Shaurya Yatra in the temple town.
PM Modi performs puja at Somnath Temple
During his visit, the Prime Minister paid floral tributes to the statues of Veer Hamirji Gohil and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Veer Hamirji Gohil is known for losing his life in 1299 AD while defending the Somnath Temple during an invasion led by Zafar Khan. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi took part in the Shaurya Yatra as part of a four-day nationwide celebration celebrating 1,000 years of uninterrupted faith and resilience since the first recorded attack by Mahmud of Ghazni on the Somnath Temple in January 1026. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi during the visit.
During the Shaurya Yatra at Shree Somnath Mandir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought the celebration to life by playing Damroo as chants and rhythmic beats echoed through the procession. (ANI photo)
As the procession passed through Somnath, Modi was seen blowing into a conch shell and thanking the people who had gathered along the route. The Shaurya Yatra is a ceremonial procession organized as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, an event that symbolizes courage, sacrifice and the enduring spirit that has helped preserve Somnath through centuries of destruction and reconstruction. Ahead of the Yatra, 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit arrived to take part in the procession, adding to its ceremonial significance.
