Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several projects in Somnath, Gujarat through video conferencing today. Apart from this, he also laid the foundation stone of Parvati Mata temple here. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, senior BJP leader LK Advani and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were present in the program.
Addressing the program, PM Modi said, “It is my good fortune that as the chairman of Somnath Temple Trust, I have been getting the opportunity to serve this holy place. Today again we are all witnessing the rejuvenation of this holy pilgrimage. He said, “Today I have the privilege of inaugurating the Samudra Darshan Path, Somnath Exhibition Gallery and Juna Somnath Temple in a new form after renovation. Also today the foundation stone of Parvati Mata temple has also been laid.
PM Modi said, “Today I also bow to Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, who renovated many temples from Vishwanath to Somnath. The confluence of antiquity and modernity which was in his life, today the country is moving ahead considering it as its ideal.
PM Modi said that this is such a place which thousands of years ago our sages had told the field of knowledge. Who is calling in front of the whole world even today that truth cannot be defeated by untruth, faith cannot be crushed by terror. He said that how many times this temple was broken in the history of hundreds of years, the idols here were ruined, every effort was made to erase its existence. But every time it was dropped, it got up the same number of times.
The projects inaugurated by PM Modi today include Somnath Resort, Somnath Exhibition Center and Old (Juna) Somnath
of the reconstructed temple complex.
Somnath resort has been developed under ‘PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Promotion Campaign) Scheme’ at a total cost of over Rs 47 crore. The Somnath Exhibition Center, developed in the premises of the ‘Tourist Facilitation Centre’, showcases the fragmented parts of the old Somnath temple and the Nagara style temple architecture sculptures of the old Somnath.
The renovated temple complex of old (Juna) Somnath has been completed by Shree Somnath Trust with a total outlay of Rs 3.5 crore. This temple is also known as ‘Ahilyabai Mandir’, as it was built by Rani Ahilyabai of Indore when she found that the old temple had turned into ruins.
The entire old temple complex has been completely redeveloped to enhance its capacity along with the safety of the pilgrims. Shri Parvati Temple is proposed to be constructed with a total outlay of Rs.30 crore. This will include the construction of the temple in Sompura Salat style, development of the sanctum sanctorum and the dance mandap.