Swabhiman Parv: January 5, 2026 - 1,000 Years of Somnath Temple's Invasion

Exam-focused facts from the 9 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Swabhiman Parv is marked on January 5, 2026, to reflect on 1,000 years since the first invasion of the revered temple of Somnath.
The Somnath Temple is located in Prabhas Patan, near Veraval, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, situated on the western coast by the Arabian Sea.
In January 1026, Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the temple in a violent and barbaric assault aimed at dismantling a symbol of faith and civilisation.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel announced the rebuilding of the temple at the same place after a visit during Diwali in 1947.
On May 11, 1951, the restored temple opened its doors to devotees in the presence of then President Rajendra Prasad.
KM Munshi authored the book "Somanatha: The Shrine Eternal," which played a crucial role in preserving the temple's legacy.
Ahilyabai Holkar is remembered for her historical "efforts to restore worship and dignity to Somnath."
Swami Vivekananda visited Somnath in the 1890s and delivered a lecture in Chennai in 1897 regarding the temple's resilience.