Somnath (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led the ‘Shaurya Yatra’ and then offered puja at the ‘Shree Somnath Mandir’ as part of the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’. The ceremonial march was organised to honour the many warriors who laid down their lives while defending the Somnath Temple.

The procession featured a symbolic march of 108 horses, each representing courage and sacrifice. The event formed a central part of the Swabhiman Parv observances being held in the region.

The Prime Minister also paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who made significant efforts in the restoration of the Somnath Temple following Independence.

He also paid floral tributes to the countless warriors who laid down their lives defending the temple.

Crowds welcome the Prime Minister

As the rhythm of the 'Damru', an instrument associated with Lord Shiva, filled the air, PM Modi was welcomed by large crowds lining the roads, eager to catch a glimpse of him. People showered him with flowers and chanted "Modi-Modi" in excitement.

During the event, he took the 'Damrus' in both hands and played it, raising his arms and flicking his wrist.

Artists from Rajasthan, Punjab, Manipur, Gujarat, and other regions performed as the Prime Minister continued along the yatra, greeting everyone he passed.

Artists share their excitement

Artists participating in the 'Shaurya Yatra' expressed their enthusiasm for Prime Minister Modi's visit. "We are going to perform the Mayur dance here. I am very happy and excited to meet him. I have met him once before as well," an artist said.

"There is definitely excitement because the Prime Minister has come here. He is from Gujarat, and because of it, the enthusiasm is doubled. You can see how such a large crowd has gathered here today," another artist said.

Another artist performing in Shaurya Yatra said, "We have come from Manipur, and today we performed here, which has made us very happy. We are feeling very good."

"My name is Pinakin Goel from Bhavnagar. Today, in the holy city of Lord Somnath, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting. Because of this, a large number of devotees, sadhus, saints, and people have gathered here. I am very happy and excited to be here today," another said.

"We have come to perform our Punjabi folk dance. We feel very excited to be performing in front of the Prime Minister. It is a moment of great pride for us," a Punjabi folk dancer told IANS.

Temple visit and official engagements

After the yatra, the Prime Minister is scheduled to perform darshan and pooja at the Somnath Temple. He is also set to attend and address a public gathering in Somnath later in the day.

In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will travel to Rajkot, where he will open the trade show and exhibition as part of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference at Marwari University at 1.35 p.m.

He is also set to inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for Kutch and Saurashtra at 2.00 p.m.

Later, PM Modi will arrive at Mahatma Mandir Metro Station in Gandhinagar, where he will launch the Phase 2 route of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project from Sector 10A to Mahatma Mandir.

History behind Somnath Swabhiman Parv

The Somnath Swabhiman Parv is being observed from January 8 to January 11. The event marks 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni launched his first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026.

The attack marked the beginning of a long period during which the temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over centuries. Despite this, Somnath never ceased to exist in the collective consciousness of the people.

On Kartak Sud 1, Diwali day, November 12, 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the ruins of Somnath and expressed his resolve to rebuild the temple, viewing its restoration as essential to reviving India's cultural confidence. The reconstruction, carried out with public participation, culminated in the consecration of the present temple on May 11, 1951, in the presence of then-President Rajendra Prasad.

In 2026, the nation marks 75 years since the historic 1951 ceremony, reaffirming India's civilisational self-respect. Revered as the first among the 12 Aadi Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, the Somnath Temple complex stands majestically along the Arabian Sea, crowned by a 150-foot shikhar, symbolising enduring faith and national resolve.

PM Modi’s message on Somnath

PM Modi also shared a summary of the first day of his visit to Somnath. He described the temple as a “beacon of eternal divinity.”

In an X (formerly Twitter) post, PM Modi shared the highlights of his visit where he offered prayers at the Somnath temple, witnessed drone show, participated in Omkar chanting and other events of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.

"Somnath stands as a beacon of eternal divinity. Its sacred presence continues to guide people across generations. Here are highlights from yesterday's programmes, including the Omkar Mantra chanting and drone show," PM Modi wrote on X.

(with inputs from agencies)