Somnath at a Millennium: Modi Highlights a Legacy of Faith, Resistance, and Renewal

• PM Modi highlighted Somnath Temple as a symbol of India’s enduring faith, resilience, and civilisational continuity.

• He recalled ancestral sacrifices made to protect the shrine over a millennium ago.

• Modi said repeated destruction failed to erase Somnath’s spiritual and cultural identity.

• He alleged history was whitewashed, downplaying ideological attacks on the temple.

• Somnath Swabhiman Parv marks 1,000 years of unwavering devotion and national pride.

"Somnath's tale is the story of India; foreign invaders tried to destroy India many times, like this temple. The invaders thought that they had won by destroying the temple, but after 1,000 years, the flag of Somnath is still flying high," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

PM Modi on last week drew upon the deep historical legacy of the Somnath Temple, recalling how generations before had risked and sacrificed their lives to protect the sacred shrine nearly a thousand years ago. Speaking at the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, he said that the ceremonial hoisting of the flag at the Somnath Mahadev Mandir today stands as a powerful statement of India’s strength and civilisational continuity before the world.

Reflecting on centuries of conflict and resilience, the Prime Minister noted that invaders and religious extremists—from Mahmud of Ghazni to Aurangzeb—believed they had subdued Somnath through force. Yet, he said, the passage of time has reversed that narrative. Those who sought to erase the temple now exist only in history books, while Somnath continues to rise as a living symbol of faith and endurance.

Addressing devotees and dignitaries gathered for the occasion, Modi urged people to imagine the atmosphere at Somnath exactly 1,000 years ago. He described how ancestors stood their ground, dedicating their lives and possessions to protect their beliefs and their devotion to Mahadev. According to him, although invaders once believed they had defeated India, the continued presence and prominence of Somnath today reflects the nation’s unbroken spirit and capability.

The Prime Minister placed the story of Somnath within a broader historical context, noting that the temple’s repeated destruction and reconstruction over centuries marked the beginning of an extended struggle. Despite numerous attacks, Somnath never disappeared from the collective memory of the people. Its repeated revival, he said, is unmatched in global history and proves that the temple represents far more than stone and mortar—it embodies belief, identity, and civilisational pride.

Modi also alleged that India’s past had been selectively presented for decades. He claimed that the full extent of hatred, violence, and religious extremism behind the repeated attacks on Somnath was deliberately obscured. Without naming individuals or parties directly, he criticised earlier Congress-led governments for what he described as an attempt to soften or “whitewash” history. He argued that if the motive had merely been looting wealth, the temple would not have been targeted again and again, nor would its deity have been repeatedly desecrated.

According to the Prime Minister, generations were taught a diluted version of history that reduced these attacks to acts of plunder, ignoring their ideological intent. He added that political appeasement, in his view, allowed such distortions to persist and prevented an honest reckoning with the past.

The Somnath Swabhiman Parv, observed from January 8 to January 11, 2026, marks 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the temple in 1026. That assault initiated a long cycle of devastation and rebuilding that has since become central to Somnath’s identity. Even through repeated destruction, the temple remained deeply rooted in the spiritual and cultural consciousness of the people, symbolising unwavering faith and resilience.

Before addressing the gathering, Modi offered prayers at the Somnath Temple after completing the Shaurya Yatra in the temple town. During his visit, he paid floral tributes to the statues of Veer Hamirji Gohil and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Veer Hamirji Gohil is remembered for sacrificing his life in 1299 AD while defending Somnath during an invasion led by Zafar Khan.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister took part in the Shaurya Yatra, a ceremonial procession organised as part of the four-day national observance commemorating a millennium of uninterrupted faith since Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasion in January 1026. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi accompanied him during the visit.

As the procession moved through Somnath, Modi actively participated in the rituals, playing the damroo, blowing a conch shell, and acknowledging crowds gathered along the route. Chants and rhythmic beats echoed through the streets, adding to the atmosphere of devotion and celebration. The arrival of 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit further enhanced the ceremonial grandeur of the yatra.

The Shaurya Yatra and the Somnath Swabhiman Parv together serve as reminders of courage, sacrifice, and an enduring spirit—qualities that, according to the Prime Minister, have enabled Somnath to survive centuries of destruction and emerge repeatedly as a symbol of India’s timeless resilience.