Somnath (Gujarat), 10 January (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Somnath on Saturday evening, receiving a rousing welcome from devotees and locals as he participated in the ongoing Somnath Swabhiman Parv, a grand four-day celebration marking 1,000 years since the temple's first recorded invasion by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026.

The event, running from January 8 to 11, underscores the temple's enduring symbol of resilience, faith, and India's civilizational spirit, with hundreds of saints gathered for 72 hours of continuous Omkar Mantra chanting.

PM Modi offered fervent prayers at the iconic Jyotirlinga shrine, joining the sacred 72-hour Omkar Naad session amid an atmosphere thick with devotion. He later chaired a pivotal meeting of the Shree Somnath Trust, reviewing infrastructure upgrades to enhance pilgrim facilities and elevate the spiritual experience at the temple complex.

Accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, the Prime Minister witnessed a breathtaking mega drone show featuring 3,000 drones, which illuminated the night sky with a 3D depiction of the Somnath Temple spanning 370 meters in width, colossal images of Lord Shiva rising 280 meters high, and a towering shivling formation measuring 330 meters.

The spectacle, executed by IIT Delhi-incubated firm BotLabs, narrated the temple's storied journey from cosmic origins through centuries of destruction and revival to contemporary India, blending spirituality, history, and national identity in a 15-minute aerial symphony.

Earlier, bhajan singer Hansraj Raghuwanshi enthralled the crowd with devotional renditions, setting a reverent tone for the festivities.

PM Modi described Somnath as a proud symbol of our civilisational courage, expressing gratitude for the warm reception during this milestone observance, which also commemorates 75 years since the temple's post-independence reconstruction spearheaded by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and inaugurated by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on May 11, 1951.

On Sunday, January 11, PM Modi will join the Shaurya Yatra at 9:45 AM—a ceremonial procession honoring temple defenders with 108 symbolic horses representing valor—followed by darshan, pooja at 10:15 AM, and a public address at 11 AM to over a lakh attendees.

This visit forms part of Modi's three-day Gujarat tour, including development initiatives like inaugurating Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 and bilateral talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reinforcing cultural preservation alongside progress.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar