On Monday (May 11), Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that those who tried to erase Sanatan tradition have themselves disappeared into history. Speaking in Varanasi, he said invaders such as Muhammad Ghori and Aurangzeb failed to break India’s spiritual identity.
He said both the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Somnath Temple send a clear message from history. Sanatan culture may face attacks, but no one can defeat it. “Destruction is temporary, while creation is eternal,” he said.
Special prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Dham
Before the event, CM Yogi and UP Governor Anandiben Patel offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. They also chanted “Om” inside the temple complex. During the visit, the chief minister presented the governor with a ceremonial stole and a rudraksha garland.
The two leaders also watched a live telecast of PM Modi performing jalabhishek at the Somnath Temple in Gujarat.
Somnath marks 75 years of reconstruction
This year marks 75 years since the consecration of the rebuilt Somnath Temple in independent India. The temple was reconsecrated on May 11, 1951. To mark the occasion, Somnath Amrit Mahotsav is being celebrated.
A parallel programme also took place in Kashi. Students performed conch blowing and damru recitals. Women who came from Gujarat raised slogans in support of Prime Minister Modi.
Remarks on Aurangzeb and foreign invaders
CM Yogi said foreign invaders repeatedly tried to destroy India’s spiritual and cultural identity. He said Aurangzeb demolished the ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple and built what he described as a symbol of subjugation.
He added that the invaders failed to understand India’s civilisational strength. Sanatan, he said, does not live only in temple walls. It lives in the consciousness of the people. That is why India’s cultural identity has survived centuries of attacks.
Kashi and Somnath as symbols of national pride
The chief minister said Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Somnath Temple stand as symbols of India’s pride. He said the grand new form of Kashi Vishwanath Dham now reflects India’s spiritual heritage, while Somnath once again shines as a symbol of national glory.
He also said some forces still do not want India’s sacred and cultural sites to move forward. According to him, similar opposition had earlier tried to block the restoration of Somnath and later the construction of the Ram Mandir Ayodhya.
A renewed cultural confidence under Modi
CM Yogi said that after independence, India did not always show enough confidence in advancing its Sanatan traditions and civilisational values. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has regained that confidence.
He said India’s sacred sites represent what is eternal. They may suffer damage for a time, but India’s spirit, he added, can never be destroyed.
