Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 11 May described the Somnath Temple as a symbol of India's "indestructible spirit" and "civilisational consciousness" while addressing the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav celebrations at Prabhas Patan in Gir Somnath, Gujarat. The event marks 75 years of the consecration of Lord Mahadev at the reconstructed temple.

Key Remarks at the Mahotsav

Opening his address with chants of "Jai Somnath" and "Har Har Mahadev", PM Modi said the occasion represented a "thousand-year journey of immortality". "Today, the region of Prabhas Patan has been filled with a special thrill," he said, evoking the atmosphere of Vedic chants, saffron flags, and the roar of the sea.

"This divine presence of Mahadev, this beauty, the showering of flowers from the earth and the sky, the radiance of saffron flags... it feels as though the entire creation is speaking together: Jai Somnath! Jai-Jai Somnath!" the Prime Minister said.

Resilience Against Historical Invasions

PM Modi referenced repeated attacks on the temple by invaders, including Mahmud of Ghazni and Alauddin Khilji, saying the structure had risen every time it was destroyed. "Looters attempted to erase the glory of the Somnath temple. They treated Somnath as merely a physical structure and repeatedly attacked it. Time and again, this temple and structure were destroyed, and each time it rose again, because those who tried to destroy it never understood the ideological strength of our nation," he said.

The Prime Minister added that India's spiritual traditions viewed the "soul as immortal", and that "Shiva is the soul of all" — framing the temple's resilience as a metaphor for the nation's civilisational continuity.

Tribute to Builders and Patrons of Somnath

Modi paid tribute to historical figures associated with the reconstruction and preservation of Somnath across different eras, including Raja Bhoj, Raja Bhimdev I, Raja Kumarapala, Ahilyabai Holkar, the Gaekwads of Vadodara, and Jam Sahib Maharaja Digvijaysinh Jadeja. He also remembered thinkers, scholars, and saints connected with Shaiva traditions in Prabhas Patan, saying their legacy continued to inspire future generations.

Infrastructure and Pilgrimage Development

Calling pilgrimage centres "sources of economic progress", PM Modi highlighted government investments in religious tourism infrastructure, including the Char Dham highway, the Kartarpur Corridor, and the Buddhist circuit. Referring specifically to Somnath, he said devotee facilities had expanded significantly in recent years.

"Today, there is the Sea Viewing Path, which further enhances Somnath's glory. There is a Tourist Facilitation Centre and an exhibition gallery. The old Somnath town is being rejuvenated," he said.

The Broader Message

The Prime Minister said the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav embodied "a resolve to build such an India that remains connected to its roots while also being ready to reach the pinnacle of modernity". He closed with a pointed message: "This temple of Somnath teaches us that truth can be suppressed, but not erased. Faith can be challenged, but it cannot be defeated." The celebrations signal a continued governmental emphasis on cultural and religious heritage as a pillar of national identity.