Page 10 - NIS English 1-15 Feb, 2026

SPECIAL | PM’s Article
Somnath Swabhiman Parv
A 1000 Years of Unbroken Faith (1026-2026)
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister
The sight of
Somnath Shivling
ensures that a
person is freed of
sins, achieves their
righteous desires,
and attains heaven
after death.
Scan the QR code to read
the Prime Minister’s article. The year 2026 is significant for the Somnath Temple. It
8 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || February 1-15, 2026
The year 2026 marks the 1000th anniversary of the first
attack on the Somnath Temple. Despite repeated attacks
over the centuries, the Somnath Temple stands tall
today as a symbol of India’s indomitable spirit. The story
of Somnath is not just the story of a temple but of the
unbreakable courage of countless sons and daughters
of Bharat Mata who protected the nation’s culture and
civilisation. As we commemorate the 1000th anniversary
of the first attack on Somnath in January 1026, this year
also marks the 75th anniversary of the inauguration
of the reconstructed Somnath Temple in 1951 in the
presence of the then president, Dr Rajendra Prasad. This
January, the Somnath Swabhiman Parv (Somnath Pride
Festival) has been launched. Here is an article on this
subject written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
omnath…hearing this word instils a sense of pride
in our hearts and minds. It is the eternal proclama-
tion of India’s soul. This majestic Temple is situated
Son the Western coast of India in Gujarat, at a place
called Prabhas Patan. The Dwadasha Jyotirling Stotram
mentions the 12 Jyotirlings across India. The Stotram begins
with “सौौरााष्ट्रेे सौोमनााथंं च..”, symbolising the civilisational and
spiritual importance of Somnath as the first Jyotirling.It is
also said:
सोोमलि�ङ्गं नरोो दृष्ट्वाा सोर्ववपाापाः� प्रमुच्यतेे।
ं
�भतेे फ�ं मनोर्वाञ्छि��तें मृते� स्वर्गंं सोमाश्रयेते्॥
े
It means: Just the sight of Somnath Shivling ensures that
a person is freed of sins, achieves their righteous desires
and attains heaven after death.
Tragically, this very Somnath, which drew the reverence
and prayers of millions, was attacked by foreign invaders,
whose agenda was demolition, not devotion.
has been 1,000 years since the first attack on this great