Bhubaneswar: A spiritually charged atmosphere prevailed at Lingaraj Temple in Ekamra Kshetra on May 11 as the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parva’ was celebrated to mark the 75th anniversary of the restoration of the Somnath Temple. The event witnessed participation from political leaders, devotees, and cultural dignitaries, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attending as the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted the profound spiritual connection between Somnath and Lingaraj, describing them as two sacred pillars representing the cultural and spiritual strength of Bharat. He said that while Somnath stands as the guardian of western Bharat, Lingaraj symbolizes the unwavering spiritual force of the East. According to him, Somnath is not merely a temple but a symbol of self-respect and civilizational pride for 1.4 billion Bharatiyas.
A special spiritual ambience was witnessed at Ekamra Peetha when Chief Minister Majhi watched the live telecast of the grand ceremony conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Somnath Temple in Gujarat’s Prabhas Patan. The Prime Minister, who also serves as the chairman of the Somnath Temple Trust, addressed devotees and participated in ceremonial worship rituals as part of the commemorative event.
Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri @MohanMOdisha attended the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parva’ organised at the sacred abode of Lord Lingaraj in Ekamra Kshetra to commemorate 75 years of the restoration of the Somnath Temple.
Highlighting the deep and timeless spiritual bond between Lord… pic.twitter.com/QNvG0MaIEs
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) May 11, 2026
Chief Minister Majhi, along with devotees gathered at the Lingaraj shrine, watched the Prime Minister’s address and the religious proceedings with deep reverence, sharing what he described as a spiritually uplifting moment with the people of Odisha.
During his speech, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of preserving Bharatiya culture and strengthening the country’s Shaivite spiritual centres. Recalling the turbulent history of Somnath Temple, he said the restoration of the shrine marked the beginning of the re-establishment of Bharatiya civilization under the leadership of Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He further stated that Bharat is now witnessing a new era of cultural resurgence under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Referring to historical invasions on Bharatiya temples, Majhi said repeated attempts were made by invaders to destroy the spiritual soul of Bharat by demolishing temples. However, he noted that the enduring faith of Sanatan followers ensured that these traditions revived stronger each time. He remarked that Somnath Temple stands as a timeless example of resilience, faith, and civilizational continuity.
ଯଶସ୍ୱୀ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଜୀଙ୍କ ‘ବିକାଶ ଭି, ବୀରାସତ ଭି’ ମନ୍ତ୍ର ଆଜି ଭାରତର ସାଂସ୍କୃତିକ ପୁନର୍ଜାଗରଣର ନୂଆ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ଲେଖୁଛି । କାଶୀ ବିଶ୍ୱନାଥ କରିଡ଼ର, ଅଯୋଧ୍ୟାରେ ଭବ୍ୟ ରାମ ମନ୍ଦିର ଏବଂ ସୋମନାଥ ମନ୍ଦିରର ପୁନରୁତ୍ଥାନ ଭାରତୀୟ ସଭ୍ୟତାର ଗୌରବକୁ ନୂଆ ଶିଖରକୁ ନେଇଛି । ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆମ ସରକାର ପୁରୀ… pic.twitter.com/MBR56hmSWe
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) May 11, 2026
Recalling the historic developments of 1951, the Chief Minister said the reconstruction of Somnath Temple became possible because of the unwavering determination of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Criticizing the political opposition and ideological resistance faced during that period in the name of so called secularism, he asserted that today’s “New Bharat” takes pride in its cultural identity under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
Majhi said the Prime Minister’s vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” (Development along with Heritage) is clearly reflected in transformative cultural projects across the country, including the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the grand construction of the Ram Mandir.
Speaking about Odisha’s development roadmap, the Chief Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to strengthening the state’s cultural and spiritual infrastructure. He announced that the Odisha government is investing Rs 330 crore for the development of Ekamra Kshetra and Rs 1,000 crore for projects such as the Shree Jagannath Museum. According to him, these initiatives will help establish Odisha as the cultural capital of Bharat.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of promoting the “Orange Economy” — a culture-based economic model aimed at generating employment through tourism and heritage-linked activities. He said the government’s primary objective is to create livelihood opportunities for local communities while preserving Odisha’s rich spiritual legacy.
Concluding his address, Majhi urged the people of Odisha to draw inspiration from the courage of Sardar Patel and the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in building a “Prosperous Odisha” and a “Developed Bharat.”
On the occasion, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari also addressed the gathering and spoke about Bharat’s cultural renaissance and the glory of Shaivite traditions. He said that when Bharat’s self-respect was under threat, Somnath Temple stood firm like a beacon of hope. “Every stone of our land carries within it the story of history, faith, and self-confidence,” he remarked.
The event was attended by Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Culture Secretary Dr. Vijay Ketan Upadhyay, Khordha District Collector Amrit Ruturaj, and several other dignitaries.
