Nationwide Celebration to Mark 1000 Years of Somnath Temple Attack and 75 Years of Reconstruction
Jaipur: A grand state-level celebration of “Somnath Swabhiman Parv” will be organized across Rajasthan on May 11, 2026, to commemorate 1000 years of the first attack on the historic Somnath Temple and 75 years of its reconstruction.
The nationwide observance is being held under the directions of the Ministry of Culture. In Rajasthan, the programme is being jointly organized by the state’s Department of Art, Literature, Culture and Archaeology along with the Devasthan Department.
As part of the celebrations, special pooja and religious ceremonies will be conducted at major Shiva temples across 41 districts of the state. The main national event from Somnath, Gujarat, to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be telecast live at all designated venues.
The state-level function in Jaipur will be held at Jharkhand Mahadev Temple in the presence of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
Shuchi Tyagi said that the state government, in coordination with district administrations, is making extensive preparations to organize the festival in a dignified and successful manner so that the historical, cultural, and spiritual significance of Somnath Temple reaches the masses.
For effective implementation of the programme, Anuradha Gogiya has been appointed as the state nodal officer.
According to Laxmi Narayan Mantri, special events will be held at prominent Shiva temples in all 41 districts of Rajasthan. District-level officers have also been appointed to oversee the arrangements.
Some of the major temples selected for the celebrations include Sadashiv Ji Temple in Sri Ganganagar, Shikharband Mahadev Temple, Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple, Mahakaleshwar Mahadev Temple, Harni Mahadev Temple, Pataleshwar Mahadev Temple and several other prominent Shiva shrines across the state.
The programme will also be promoted extensively through print, electronic, and social media with the support of the Department of Information and Public Relations Rajasthan.
Appealing to the people of the state, Commissioner Laxmi Narayan Mantri urged citizens to participate in the celebrations at their nearest Shiva temple and become part of this historic and spiritually significant occasion.
