Gujarat: PM Modi leads Shaurya Yatra at Somnath to mark 1000 years of Hindu civilisational spirit, honours the legacy of warriors who sacrificed their lives to protect the temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Gujarat for a three-day visit of religious and diplomatic events, beginning with his visit to the historic Somnath Temple on Saturday (10th January). The visit marks the start of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, a grand celebration highlighting 1000 years of spiritual strength and resilience linked to the sacred shrine.

Soon after arriving in Somnath, PM Modi took part in religious rituals and interacted with devotees during a live roadshow, drawing large crowds along the temple route. The atmosphere was deeply spiritual, with chants, decorations and lights creating a festive mood across the temple town.

Honouring Somnath’s defenders through Shaurya Yatra

A key highlight of the celebrations is the Shaurya Yatra, a ceremonial procession that PM Modi is leading on Sunday morning, 11th January, at around 9:45 am. The yatra symbolically honours the warriors who sacrificed their lives to protect the Somnath Temple during times of invasion.

The procession features a mounted cavalry march with 108 horses, representing courage, sacrifice and pride. The event is being seen as a strong message of unity and cultural confidence. Following the yatra, the Prime Minister is scheduled to perform darshan and pooja at the temple and later address a public gathering as part of the Swabhiman Parv.

Spiritual gatherings, drone show, and Omkar chanting 

The festival has witnessed the presence of thousands of followers. The temple complex has seen crowds of people till late at night despite the cold weather. The firework display, spectacular lighting, and drone display consisting of 3,000 drones made the event majestic.

Earlier in the night, on Saturday, 10th January, Prime Minister Modi joined the 72 hours of Omkar Mantra chanting, took darshan of the shrine, and saw the Drone Show, which presented significant incidents in the long and eventful history of Somnath. This event marks the occasion of 1,000 years after the first attack on the temple in 1026 and 75 years after its restoration in 1951, following India’s independence.

As chairman of the Shree Somnath Trust, PM Modi also chaired a meeting to review ongoing and future infrastructure projects aimed at improving facilities for pilgrims and enhancing the overall spiritual experience.

Vibrant Gujarat conference and metro launch in Rajkot and Ahmedabad

Later in the day, after concluding the Somnath programme, the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to Rajkot, where he will inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for the Kutch and Saurashtra regions around 1:30 pm. He will address industry leaders and stakeholders at the event, highlighting regional development and investment opportunities.

In the evening, at around 5:15 pm, PM Modi will inaugurate the remaining stretch of Phase 2 of the Ahmedabad Metro, connecting Sector 10A (Sachivalaya) to Mahatma Mandir, further strengthening urban transport in the state.

Diplomatic engagements with the German Chancellor 

PM Modi’s Gujarat visit will continue on 12th January with a major diplomatic engagement. He is scheduled to meet German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad at 9:30 am. The two leaders will later attend the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront before holding bilateral talks at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

The discussions are expected to review the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which recently marked its 25th anniversary, focusing on cooperation in trade, technology, and global issues.

Written by Shriti Sagar
Last modified at