PM Modi leads Shaurya yatra; dazzling lights, drone, devotion pull massive crowd to Somnath

Prime Minister Narendra Modi connected Sunday (January 11, 2026) led ‘Shaurya Yatra’, a ceremonial procession organised to honour those who laid down their lives defending the Somnath temple successful Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district.

The yatra, being organised arsenic portion of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, featured a procession of 108 horses, reflecting valour and sacrifice.

A ample fig of radical and devotees gathered connected some sides of the yatra way to greet the premier minister.

Standing connected a specially designed vehicle, Mr. Modi, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, waved astatine the assemblage during the one-km-long yatra.

Thousands of devotees thronged the Somnath temple analyzable connected Saturday (January 10, 2026), staying retired good past midnight, braving wintertime chills, arsenic dazzling fireworks, decorations and a drone amusement combined with spiritual fervour drew an unprecedented assemblage to the past shrine.

The crowd, which peaked precocious successful the evening soon aft Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sojourn to the temple arsenic portion of Somnath Swabhiman Parv, included radical of each ages, section residents arsenic good arsenic long-distance travellers.

Mr. Modi connected Saturday (January 10, 2026) evening participated successful 'Omkar Mantra' chanting astatine the Somnath temple, had 'darshan', and besides witnessed a expansive drone amusement featuring an assemblage of 3,000 drones, matching the standard of the gathering connected ground.

Preeti Karelia, on with 24 different women, travelled from Mumbai successful neighbouring Maharashtra conscionable to witnesser the celebrations.

"We came contiguous to spot Somnath temple, to spot our premier minister. This juncture that celebrates the temple and its traditions and resilience is an astonishing feeling. The fireworks, the decoration successful the streets starring to the temple, the fantastic drone amusement lone added to the powerfulness of divinity that has brought truthful galore radical to the shrine successful conscionable 1 day," Karelia told PTI.

The women-only radical described itself arsenic a 'bhajan mandali' from Mumbai.

The main roadworthy starring to the temple, from Shankh Circle to Veer Hamirji Gohil Circle, has been decked up with flowers and thematic decorations.

Mounted lights fashioned successful the shapes of ‘trishul’, ‘Om’ and ‘damru’ lined the stretch, complemented by Somnath Swabhiman Parv posters and flower-made ‘shivalings’.

Large banners crossed the metropolis bore the festival’s sanction and slogans specified arsenic ‘Akhand Somnath, Akhand Bharat’ and evocative lines including ‘Prahar se Punuruthan ka Sakshi, Main Swayambhu Somnath Hun’.

The ornate gateway adjacent the Shankh Circle was decorated with flowers, and successful the evening, a radical of people creation artists from Karnataka, clad successful accepted attire, walked past it, drafting the attraction of residents anxious to get photographs clicked.

As dusk fell and nighttime progressed, the crowds swelled further.

With the Prime Minister’s arrival, a oversea of radical gathered adjacent the main gates of the temple complex, adjacent arsenic information unit worked to support order.

Visitors connected Saturday (January 10, 2026) nighttime included spiritual figures specified arsenic Bhardwaj Giri, who travelled from Bhavnagar, and seasoned person Girish M Kotecha from neighbouring Junagadh district.

Interacting with PTI adjacent the Veer Hamirji Gohil Circle, which has an equestrian statue of Gohil, a 16th-century Rajput warrior remembered for defending the Somnath temple against invaders, Giri said radical similar Veer Hamirji fought to "protect the pridefulness of our Hindu shrines".

The full circle, facing the temple complex, was illuminated with lights and floral decorations, presenting a striking sight.

"It's a solemnisation of the tone of Somnath and you tin spot the joyousness among the radical connected this occasion," Kotecha told PTI.

Even arsenic sections of the assemblage departed aft ‘darshan’, taste programmes and the drone show, much visitors poured in, including a ample fig of women who braved the aboriginal January chill with enthusiasm.

Harsh Shah, who visited the temple analyzable adjacent to midnight with household members, said, “Somnath baba is pulling radical and we besides came to spot the decorations and lights.”

A astir 15-minute drone amusement featuring respective thematic formations, including immense images of Lord Shiva and a 'shivling', and a 3D depiction of the Somnath temple, followed by a dazzling show of fireworks, was an instant amusement stealer.

PM Modi, who arrived present connected Saturday evening connected a two-day sojourn to the temple town, witnessed the show, held arsenic portion of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.

One of the drone formations besides depicted the demolition faced by the historical temple implicit the centuries, arsenic good arsenic its emergence and resilience.

The Parv marks 1,000 years since the Somnath temple's penetration by Mahmud of Ghazni, the Prime Minister's Office said connected Friday.

After Independence, efforts to reconstruct the temple were undertaken by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. A cardinal milestone was achieved successful 1951 erstwhile the restored Somnath temple was formally opened to devotees successful the beingness of past President Rajendra Prasad.

Many visitors were besides seen clicking photographs with the statue of Patel installed successful beforehand of the main ceremonial gross of the temple complex.

The Somnath temple is 1 of the 12 ‘jyotirlingas’ — beatified sites associated with Lord Shiva — successful the country.

Local nonmigratory and ice-cream vendor Chand Mal, who was among the late-night visitors, said helium had ne'er seen specified crowds before.

"I travel present often oregon connected weekends, but I person ne'er seen specified a assemblage before. It is immense and seems unprecedented. It besides feels peculiar contiguous to get His (Lord Shiva's) blessings," helium said.

A bid of programmes are being held from January 8 to 11 arsenic portion of the Swabhiman Parv.

At 9:45 americium connected Sunday, PM Modi is scheduled to instrumentality portion successful the 'Shaurya Yatra', a ceremonial procession organised to honour those who laid down their lives defending the Somnath temple.

The yatra volition diagnostic a symbolic procession of 108 horses, reflecting valour and sacrifice, officials said.

Thereafter, the Prime Minister volition connection prayers astatine the temple astatine 10:15 am, and enactment successful a nationalist relation marking the Somnath Swabhiman Parv astatine 11 am, earlier departing for Rajkot.