Somnath (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at the Somnath Temple after concluding the Shaurya Yatra, organised as part of a national commemoration marking 1,000 years of resilience since the first recorded attack on the shrine.
During his visit, the Prime Minister paid floral tributes to the statues of Veer Hamirji Gohil and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Veer Hamirji Gohil is remembered for sacrificing his life in 1299 AD while defending the Somnath Temple during an invasion led by Zafar Khan. Sardar Patel played a pivotal role in the post-Independence reconstruction of the temple, viewing its revival as essential to restoring India’s cultural self-confidence.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi participated in the Shaurya Yatra at Somnath, an event held under the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, which runs from January 8 to January 11, 2026. The four-day programme commemorates a millennium of unbroken faith since Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack on the temple in January 1026. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.
As part of the procession, PM Modi played the damru and acknowledged the greetings of devotees and onlookers who had gathered in large numbers. The Shaurya Yatra symbolises courage, sacrifice and the enduring spirit that ensured Somnath’s survival through centuries of repeated destruction and reconstruction.
A ceremonial contingent of 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit also took part in the yatra, adding to the historic and cultural significance of the event. The Somnath Swabhiman Parv highlights how the temple, despite being repeatedly demolished over centuries, remained deeply rooted in the collective consciousness of the people.
The modern reconstruction of the Somnath Temple began after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited its ruins on Diwali day, November 12, 1947, and resolved to rebuild it as a symbol of national pride. Completed with public support, the present temple was consecrated on May 11, 1951, in the presence of then President Rajendra Prasad. In 2026, the nation marks 75 years since that historic consecration.
Revered as the first among the 12 Aadi Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, the Somnath Temple stands along the Arabian Sea with its 150-foot shikhar, continuing to symbolise enduring faith, cultural continuity and national resolve.
