Department of Art & Culture Organises State Level Event in Shiv Temple, Mazar Pahad
Sri Vijaya Puram, May 11: The Ministry of Culture, Government of India is organizing the Somnath Swabhiman Parv – 1000 Years of Resilience and Unwavering Faith, a year-long national commemoration from January 11, 2026 to January 11, 2027. This historic occasion marks 1000 years since the first attack on Somnath in 1026 AD and 75 years of the temple’s reconstruction and inauguration in May 1951.
To mark this occasion, a State Level event was organized in A&N Islands by the Department of Art & Culture to commemorate the ‘Swabhiman Parv’ in the Shiv Temple at Mazar Pahad today.
The sacred programme started with the ‘Kalash Yatra’ which started from Ayyannar Temple near Flag Point. Women community & other devotees in large numbers participated in the ‘Kalash Yatra’ with great fervor and devotion which culminated in the Shiv Temple, Mazar Pahad. This was followed by chanting of mantras and offering of special puja archana in the Temple. The Hon’ble Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, senior officers of A&N Administration and a large gathering of devotees participated in the event.
A cultural programme befitting the occasion was also held. The National Level programme and the address of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at Somnath Temple was live screened which was witnessed by the gathering in the Shiv Temple at Mazar Pahad.
Somnath Swabhiman Parv commemorates 1000 years of unbroken faith and is envisioned as a platform for meaningful cultural engagement that not only strengthens national identity but also fosters deep respect for India’s rich and diverse cultural legacy. ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’ marked two significant milestones in India’s historical journey: one thousand years since the first recorded attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026, and seventy-five years since the reopening of the reconstructed temple in 1951 following Independence.
The commemoration is not only a tribute to Somnath’s enduring legacy but also a reaffirmation of India’s cultural strength and unity. The active participation by the devotees and the people from all walks of life made the event a memorable one.