Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday participated in the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’ celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the reconstruction of Shri Somnath Temple. The event was held in a spiritually charged atmosphere at the Lingaraj Temple precinct.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, CM Majhi highlighted the deep spiritual connection between Somnath and Lingaraj. He said, “If Somnath is the western sentinel of India, then Lingaraj is the unwavering spiritual power of the East.”
The Chief Minister watched the live broadcast of the grand ceremony held at Somnath Temple in Gujarat, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He joined devotees present at Lingaraj Temple in offering prayers and paying tributes during the event.
In his speech, CM Majhi emphasized the protection of Indian culture and the development of Shiv shrines. Recalling the turbulent history of Somnath Temple, he said that despite repeated invasions and destruction, the temple rose again and again due to the eternal faith of Sanatan Dharma. He praised Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s strong resolve that made the reconstruction of Somnath Temple possible in 1951. Majhi added that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, a new cultural renaissance is taking place in India, reflected in projects like the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Speaking about Odisha’s development, the Chief Minister said his government is committed to strengthening the state’s cultural and spiritual foundation. He announced that following PM Modi’s vision of ‘Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi’, the Odisha government will invest Rs 330 crore for the development of Ekamra Kshetra and Rs 1,000 crore for the Shri Jagannath Heritage Museum to establish Odisha as India’s cultural capital.
He also stressed the promotion of the ‘Orange Economy’ (culture-based economy) to generate employment through tourism.
In conclusion, CM Majhi called upon all Odias to work together for a ‘Prosperous Odisha’ and ‘Developed India’, drawing inspiration from Sardar Patel’s courage and PM Modi’s foresight.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Culture Secretary Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya and Khordha Collector Amrit Ruturaj also attended the programme.
