Modi Leads 75th Anniversary Celebrations at Somnath Temple with Rituals and Suryakiran Flypast

The commemoration marked 75 years since the temple’s reconstruction, an initiative championed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and inaugurated in 1951 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. During the ceremony, Modi performed rituals including Maha Pooja and paid tributes to the temple’s enduring spiritual and historical significance.

Joined by Gujarat leaders, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s cultural revival under the theme “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi,” linking development with the preservation of heritage and civilizational identity. The event also featured a flypast by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team, which organizers described as a symbol of bhakti and shakti during the anniversary celebrations.

Supporters hailed the event as a powerful assertion of Hindu pride and a tribute to India’s cultural roots. However, critics questioned the fuel consumption linked to official convoys and helicopter movements during the high-profile visit, particularly amid Modi’s recent public calls for fuel conservation during an ongoing oil crisis.

The anniversary celebrations at Somnath Temple carried both religious and political significance, reinforcing the government’s emphasis on heritage revival while placing the historic temple once again at the center of national attention during a period marked by economic and energy-related concerns.a