Agartala, May 11: Stressing that progress should never come at the cost of identity and heritage, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Sunday urged people, especially the younger generation, to remain deeply connected to their roots, language, religion, and culture.

The Chief Minister made the remarks at the state-level celebration of Somnath Swabhiman Parv at Shivbari on Central Road in Agartala. The programme was organised as part of nationwide events marking 75 years of the reconstruction of the historic Somnath Temple in Gujarat.

Before the formal event, Dr. Saha performed Jalabhishek and offered prayers to Lord Shiva at the temple premises. Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, Information and Cultural Affairs Secretary Dr. P.K. Chakraborty, and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described the celebration as a reflection of India’s spiritual awakening and cultural resurgence. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently encouraging initiatives that revive respect for India’s traditions, faith, and historical legacy.

Dr. Saha recalled that the Somnath Temple was first attacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 and had faced repeated destruction over centuries. Despite this, he said, the temple continued to rise again, symbolising the resilience and spiritual strength of Indian civilization.

He said the year-long Somnath Swabhiman Parv, being observed from January 11, 2026 to January 11, 2027 across the country, aims to make the youth more aware of India’s heritage and values.

“People should move ahead with time and make use of science and modern technology, but they must never forget their roots, language, religion, and culture,” Dr. Saha said.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in initiating the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple after Independence and noted that the rebuilt temple was inaugurated in 1951 by the then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Paying tribute to personalities like Rani Ahilyabai and others who contributed to preserving the temple, Dr. Saha expressed hope that such programmes would strengthen the spirit of nationalism among the youth and contribute towards the vision of a developed India by 2047.

As part of the programme, a Kalas Yatra of women was taken out from Lakshminarayan Bari pond to Shivbari temple. A documentary on the history of Somnath Temple and a cultural programme featuring renowned artistes of the state were also presented.

The central event of Somnath Swabhiman Parv was held at the Somnath Temple premises in Gujarat in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose address was screened live during the Agartala programme.

Senior officials, corporators of Agartala Municipal Corporation, State Cultural Advisory Committee Vice-Chairman Subrata Chakraborty, and ICA Director Bimbisar Bhattacharjee were among those present.