“No One Remembers Invaders”: Yogi Adityanath At Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav In Varanasi

The Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav in Varanasi features remarks by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasising that foreign attempts to erase Sanatan traditions failed, as the faith persists in India's collective consciousness. The event links temple restorations to national identity, highlighting Somnath, Kashi Vishwanath, and the Ram temple debates as symbols of cultural resilience.

At the Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav in Varanasi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said attempts by “foreign attackers” to erase India’s spiritual and cultural symbols did not succeed, because Sanatan traditions live in the country’s consciousness and cannot be removed, calling the Somnath and Kashi Vishwanath temples living expressions of national self-respect.

Speaking on Monday during the Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav, held under the broader 'Somnath Swabhimaan Parv’, Yogi Adityanath argued that foreign powers once tried to weaken India’s spiritual core but failed to touch what was described as the soul of the country, which continues to draw strength from ancient Sanatan beliefs.

Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav highlights attacks on Sanatan identity

The Chief Minister stated that from Mohammad Ghori to later Mughal rulers, many “foreign attackers” targeted India’s religious and cultural centres. Yogi Adityanath said Aurangzeb demolished the earlier Baba Vishwanath temple and raised a symbol of slavery at that location, yet could not damage what was described as India’s inner soul.

According to Yogi Adityanath, these rulers did not understand that Sanatan dharma is not confined to temple structures. Yogi Adityanath said it lives within India’s very awareness, which regards its own soul as eternal and immortal, and therefore efforts to wipe out this tradition could not succeed in the long term.

Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav links Somnath and Ram temple debates

Yogi Adityanath remarked that those who once tried to erase Sanatan traditions have themselves disappeared into dust. Yogi Adityanath added that hardly anyone recalls those invaders now, whereas Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the Somnath temple continue to tell the story of India’s confidence and dignity through their renewed presence.

The Chief Minister also claimed that opposition to the reconstruction of the Somnath temple did not end with that project. Without taking any party’s name, Yogi Adityanath said the same elements later tried to obstruct the building of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and repeatedly delayed a resolution to that long-standing dispute.

Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav focuses on spiritual centre revival

Yogi Adityanath said some groups even now object to the revival of India’s spiritual and cultural sites. Yogi Adityanath mentioned that the people who created hurdles during the restoration of the Somnath Mahadev temple were the same people who, at later stages, opposed the Ram temple construction process and the settlement of related issues.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yogi Adityanath credited Modi with guiding the country towards the idea of “One India, Great India” and leading efforts to restore key pilgrimage locations. Yogi Adityanath expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh for the attention given to ancient spiritual centres under this approach.

Yogi Adityanath said several major shrines linked to the Sanatan tradition are progressing on a fresh path of development and renewed grandeur. Yogi Adityanath listed the restored Somnath temple complex in Saurashtra, Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi, Mahakal Mahalok in Ujjain and the under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya as examples inspired by the Prime Minister.

During the Somnath Sankalp Mahotsav event in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel also addressed the gathering. The programme formed part of wider celebrations linked with 'Somnath Swabhimaan Parv’, which underline Somnath’s place in India’s spiritual history and its role as a symbol of cultural confidence for many devotees.

Information about the journalist who reported these developments states that Deep Narayan Pandey has covered Uttar Pradesh news for Live Hindustan for eight years. With over 15 years in digital, television and print, Pandey works on politics, crime, society, infrastructure, tourism, education and health, and earlier reported from Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Lucknow.