Somnath Amrut Mahotsav: PM Modi Participates in Grand Rituals, Witnesses Spectacular Air Show

Somnath, May 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday participated in grand religious ceremonies at the historic Somnath Temple as part of the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav celebrations commemorating 75 years of the inauguration of the restored temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
After holding a roadshow in Somnath, the Prime Minister arrived at the temple premises and performed the traditional ‘Maha Pooja’ along with ‘Jalabhishek’, a sacred ritual involving the offering of holy water over the Shivling amid the chanting of Vedic hymns and mantras by priests.
The ceremony also included the grand ‘Kumbhabhishek’ ritual, during which holy water collected from prominent pilgrimage centres across the country was sprinkled atop the towering temple spire using a crane. Devotees and spiritual leaders gathered in large numbers to witness the special occasion.
The Somnath Amrut Mahotsav is being organised to mark 75 years since the restored temple was inaugurated by India’s first President, Rajendra Prasad in 1951. The reconstruction of the temple after Independence has long been regarded as a symbol of India’s cultural and spiritual resurgence.
Prime Minister Modi was accompanied during the event by Bhupendra Patel and senior Gujarat government officials. The celebrations also featured a spectacular airshow by the Indian Air Force’s Suryakiran Aerobatic Team.
The fighter jets performed synchronized aerial manoeuvres above the temple complex and released saffron, white and green smoke trails using indigenous smoke pods, creating the image of the Indian tricolour across the sky. The display drew loud applause from thousands of devotees and visitors gathered at the venue.
Security arrangements in Somnath were intensified ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, with large deployments of police personnel and special protection units across the temple town.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a public gathering later in the day at Sadbhavana Ground, where he is expected to speak about India’s cultural heritage, spiritual traditions and ongoing development initiatives in Gujarat.
Religious leaders attending the event described the celebration as a historic milestone reflecting the spiritual importance of Somnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas revered by Hindu devotees across the country.