Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to take part in the ongoing Somnath Swabhiman Parv on Saturday, a four-day programme marking 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple.
The event commemorates the temple’s destruction in January 1026 by Mahmud of Ghazni and its repeated rebuilding over centuries. Organisers say the celebrations reflect continuity of faith and civilisational resilience.
Why Somnath Swabhiman Parv is being observed
The festival, running from January 8 to 11, 2026, also marks 75 years since the temple’s modern reconstruction in 1951 under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister described the event as a powerful expression of India’s spiritual traditions, noting that it is being observed across the country with devotion and enthusiasm.
He said he will reach Somnath on Saturday evening and, at around 8 pm, join the chanting of the Omkar mantra within the temple premises.
The evening programme will conclude with a drone show over the Arabian Sea.
Shaurya Yatra, temple rituals and public address
On Sunday morning, January 11, the Prime Minister will lead the Shaurya Yatra at around 9:45 am. The procession honours those who laid down their lives to protect the shrine through centuries of conflict.
The yatra will include a symbolic one-kilometre roadshow with 108 horsemen dressed in traditional attire.
After the procession, PM Modi will offer prayers and perform darshan and pooja at the Jyotirlinga at about 10:15 am. He is scheduled to address a public gathering at around 11 am as part of the Swabhiman Parv events.
According to organisers, the four-day programme features 72 hours of uninterrupted Omkar chanting by young priests and saints, along with devotional music evenings and cultural programmes focused on heritage and national pride.
Located on Gujarat’s coast, the Somnath Temple remains one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and continues to be seen as a symbol of faith and renewal.