The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects in Somnath, Gujarat today via video conferencing. The projects inaugurated include the Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre and reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Shree Parvati Temple during the event. Shri Lal Krishan Advani, Union Home Minister, along with CM and Deputy CM of Gujarat were present on the occasion.

Congratulating the devotees all over the world, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Sardar Patel who showed indomitable will power for the revival of India’s ancient glory. Sardar Patel linked Somnath Mandir with independent spirit of independent India. Shri Modi said that it is ‘our good fortune that we are taking forward the efforts of Sardar Saheb in the 75^th year of Independence and imparting new splendour to Somnath Temple.  The Prime Minister also remembered LokmataAhilyabai Holkar who renovated several temples from Vishwanath to Somnath. Country is moving forward taking inspiration from the blend of modernity and tradition in her life, said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said that  in  initiatives like Statue of Unity and transformation of Kachch, Gujarat has seen from the close quarters, the results of linking modernity with tourism. ‘It has been demand of every time period that we look for new possibilities in religious tourism and strengthen the links between pilgrimage and local economy” the Prime Minister pointed out.

The Prime Minister said that Lord Shiva gives rise to development and creativity amidst annihilation and destruction. Shiv is unending, can’t be expressed and eternal. ‘Our faith in Shiva makes us aware of our existence beyond the limits of time, gives us the strength to face the challenges of time’, said the Prime Minister.

Reflecting on the history of the revered temple, the Prime Minister recalled the repeated destruction of the temple and how the temple rose after every attack. ‘It is a symbol of the belief that truth can’t be defeated by falsehood and faith can’t be crushed by terror.’ “The destructive powers, the thinking that tries to establish an empire on the basis of terror, may dominate temporarily, but, its existence is never permanent, it cannot suppress humanity for a long time. This was true when some attackers were demolishing Somnath, it is equally true even today, when the world is apprehensive of such ideologies.”, the Prime Minister insisted.

The Prime Minister said that  reconstruction of Somnath temple to grand renovation is due to centuries of strong will and ideological continuity. ‘Great men like Rajendra Prasad ji, Sardar Patel and KM Munshi faced difficulties for this campaign even after independence. Still, finally Somnath Mandir got established as divine pillar of modern India in 1950. The Country is moving towards amicable solutions of difficult problems. A bright pillar of the glory of modern India is coming up in the form of Ram Mandir’,  he said

He said the our thinking should be to learn from history to improve our present and create a new future. Referring to his mantra of ‘Bharat Jodo Andolan’, Shri Modi said that this is not just geographical connectivity but connect in thoughts also. ‘This also is a pledge for connecting the building of future India with our past’, said the Prime Minister.  The Prime Minister said “For us essence of history and faith is SabkaSaath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka, Vishwas and SabkaPrayas”.The Prime Minister highlighted the role of the faith and belief system in the underscoring the unity of India. He said ‘From Somnath and Nageshwar in the west to Vaidyanathin the east, from Baba Kedarnath in the north to Shri Rameshwar, at the extreme southern end of India, these 12 Jyotirlingas serve to connect the whole of India.Similarly, the arrangement of our four dhams, the concept of our Shaktipeeths, the establishment of different pilgrimages in different corners of our country, this outline of our faith is actually an expression of the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'.’

Continuing with the role of spirituality in strengthening the unity of the nation, the Prime Minister dwelled upon the national and international potential of tourism and spiritual tourism. He said that the country is reviving the ancient glory by building modern infrastructure. He gave example of Ramayana circuit which is apprising the Ram Bhakts about new places related to lord Ram and making them feel how Lord Ram is entire India’s Ram. Similarly Buddha Circuit providing facilities to the devotees from world over. The Prime Minister informed that Tourism Ministry is developing tourist circuits on 15 themes under Swadesh Darshan Scheme, creating opportunities for tourism in neglected areas. Developments in hilly area like Kedarnath, tunnel and highways for Char Dhams, development work in Vaishnao Devi, high-tech infrastructure in the Northeast are bridging the distances. Similarly, under PRASHAD Scheme, announced in 2014, is developing 40 major places of pilgrimage out of which, 15 are already completed. In Gujarat, work is on for three projects worth over 100 crore.  Attention is being paid to connect the places of pilgrimages. The Prime Minister said that the country is not only connecting common citizens through tourism but is moving forward too. ‘The Country has moved from 65th place in 2013 on  Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index to 34th place in 2019.

The Somnath Promenade has been developed under PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme at a total cost of over ₹ 47 crore. The Somnath Exhibition Centre, developed in the premises of ‘Tourist Facilitation Centre’, displays the exhibits from dismantled parts of old Somnath temple and its sculptures having Nagar style temple architecture of old Somnath.

The reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath has been completed by Shree Somnath Trust with a total outlay of ₹ 3.5 crore. This temple is also referred to as AhilyabaiTemple since it was built by Queen Ahilyabai of Indore, when she found that the old temple was in ruins. The entire old temple complex has been holistically redeveloped for the safety of pilgrims and with augmented capacity.

Shree Parvati Temple is proposed to be constructed with a total outlay of ₹ 30 Cr. This will include temple construction in Sompura Salats Style, development of GarbhaGriha and Nritya Mandap.

Watch LIVE https://t.co/dCtceCTA6K

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

आज मुझे समुद्र दर्शन पथ, सोमनाथ प्रदर्शन गैलरी और जीर्णोद्धार के बाद नए स्वरूप में जूना सोमनाथ मंदिर के लोकार्पण का सौभाग्य मिला है।

साथ ही आज पार्वती माता मंदिर का शिलान्यास भी हुआ है: PM @narendramodi #JaySomnath

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

आज मैं लौह पुरुष सरदार पटेल जी के चरणों में भी नमन करता हूँ जिन्होंने भारत के प्राचीन गौरव को पुनर्जीवित करने की इच्छाशक्ति दिखाई।

सरदार साहब, सोमनाथ मंदिर को स्वतंत्र भारत की स्वतंत्र भावना से जुड़ा हुआ मानते थे: PM @narendramodi #JaySomnath

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

आज मैं लौह पुरुष सरदार पटेल जी के चरणों में भी नमन करता हूँ जिन्होंने भारत के प्राचीन गौरव को पुनर्जीवित करने की इच्छाशक्ति दिखाई।

सरदार साहब, सोमनाथ मंदिर को स्वतंत्र भारत की स्वतंत्र भावना से जुड़ा हुआ मानते थे: PM @narendramodi #JaySomnath

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

आज मैं, लोकमाता अहिल्याबाई होल्कर को भी प्रणाम करता हूँ जिन्होंने विश्वनाथ से लेकर सोमनाथ तक, कितने ही मंदिरों का जीर्णोद्धार कराया।

प्राचीनता और आधुनिकता का जो संगम उनके जीवन में था, आज देश उसे अपना आदर्श मानकर आगे बढ़ रहा है: PM @narendramodi #JaySomnath

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

ये शिव ही हैं जो विनाश में भी विकास का बीज अंकुरित करते हैं, संहार में भी सृजन को जन्म देते हैं।

इसलिए शिव अविनाशी हैं, अव्यक्त हैं और अनादि हैं।

शिव में हमारी आस्था हमें समय की सीमाओं से परे हमारे अस्तित्व का बोध कराती है, हमें समय की चुनौतियों से जूझने की शक्ति देती है: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

इस मंदिर को सैकड़ों सालों के इतिहास में कितनी ही बार तोड़ा गया, यहाँ की मूर्तियों को खंडित किया गया, इसका अस्तित्व मिटाने की हर कोशिश की गई।

लेकिन इसे जितनी भी बार गिराया गया, ये उतनी ही बार उठ खड़ा हुआ: PM @narendramodi #JaySomnath

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

जो तोड़ने वाली शक्तियाँ हैं, जो आतंक के बलबूते साम्राज्य खड़ा करने वाली सोच है, वो किसी कालखंड में कुछ समय के लिए भले हावी हो जाएं लेकिन, उसका अस्तित्व कभी स्थायी नहीं होता, वो ज्यादा दिनों तक मानवता को दबाकर नहीं रख सकती: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

हमारी सोच होनी चाहिए इतिहास से सीखकर वर्तमान को सुधारने की, एक नया भविष्य बनाने की।

इसलिए, जब मैं ‘भारत जोड़ो आंदोलन’ की बात करता हूँ तो उसका भाव केवल भौगोलिक या वैचारिक जुड़ाव तक सीमित नहीं है।

ये भविष्य के भारत के निर्माण के लिए हमें हमारे अतीत से जोड़ने का भी संकल्प है: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

पश्चिम में सोमनाथ और नागेश्वर से लेकर पूरब में बैद्यनाथ तक,

उत्तर में बाबा केदारनाथ से लेकर दक्षिण में भारत के अंतिम छोर पर विराजमान श्री रामेश्वर तक,

ये 12 ज्योतिर्लिंग पूरे भारत को आपस में पिरोने का काम करते हैं: PM @narendramodi #JaySomnath

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

पर्यटन के जरिए आज देश सामान्य मानवी को न केवल जोड़ रहा है, बल्कि खुद भी आगे बढ़ रहा है।

इसी का परिणाम है कि 2013 में देश Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index में जहां 65th स्थान पर था, वहीं 2019 में 34th स्थान पर आ गया: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 20, 2021

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