PM Modi on Monday led a grand roadshow in Gujarat’s Prabhas Patan as the nation marked 75 years of the consecration of the reconstructed Somnath Temple, a shrine that has come to symbolise India’s civilisational resilience, spiritual continuity and cultural self-confidence.
The Prime Minister’s visit formed part of the ongoing Somnath Amrut Mahotsav celebrations, commemorating 75 years since India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, inaugurated the restored temple in 1951 after Independence. The event also coincides with the broader Somnath Swabhiman Parv, observed earlier this year to mark 1,000 years since the first attack on the temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026.
Thousands of devotees and residents gathered along the nearly 1.5-kilometre stretch from the helipad to Veer Hamirji Circle near the temple complex to welcome Modi. Waving saffron flags and chanting slogans, crowds lined both sides of the route as the Prime Minister’s convoy slowly moved through the coastal town amid tight security arrangements.
Adding colour to the celebrations, artists from several states, including West Bengal, performed traditional folk dances and cultural presentations at designated points along the roadshow route, turning the event into a showcase of India’s diverse cultural traditions.
Following the roadshow, Modi visited the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and performed a series of elaborate rituals. The Prime Minister took part in the Vishesh Maha Puja, Kumbhabhishek and Dhvajarohan ceremonies, which included the ceremonial hoisting of the temple flag. During the rituals, flower petals were showered upon the shrine from helicopters, creating a visually striking spectacle around one of Hinduism’s most revered Jyotirlingas.
The Somnath Temple occupies a central place in India’s civilisational memory. Rebuilt multiple times after repeated invasions and destruction, the temple has long been regarded as a symbol of the endurance of Hindu faith and India’s cultural identity. The reconstruction effort after Independence, strongly backed by leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and K M Munshi, came to represent a larger national resolve to reclaim and restore India’s heritage.
Later in the day, Modi is scheduled to address a public gathering at Sadbhavana Ground and release a commemorative Rs 75 coin marking the milestone year. According to the official notification issued on May 8, one side of the coin will feature the Somnath Temple along with the inscription: “A celebration of 1000 years of India’s unwavering faith and devotion,” alongside the year 2026. The coin will be minted at the government mint in Kolkata.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Sardar Dham Bhavan-3, officially known as the Shri Dushyant and Daksha Patel Complex, in Vadodara. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore across nearly 4.75 lakh square feet, the facility includes accommodation rooms, an NRI guest house, an e-library, career guidance and training centres, as well as a 1,000-seat auditorium.
Modi had arrived in Jamnagar on Sunday night at the beginning of his two-day Gujarat visit, with extensive preparations and welcome programmes organised across Jamnagar, Somnath and Vadodara ahead of the high-profile events.
