PM Modi to Attend Somnath Swabhiman Parv Today, Join Omkar Chanting
The four-day event marks 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple and 75 years of its modern reconstruction, celebrating faith, resilience and civilisational continuity.
New Delhi, Jan 10 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the ongoing Somnath Swabhiman Parv on Saturday, a four-day programme commemorating 1,000 years since the first attack on the historic Somnath Temple.
The event recalls the destruction of the temple in January 1026 by Mahmud of Ghazni and highlights its repeated reconstruction over the centuries. Organisers say the celebrations symbolise the continuity of faith and the resilience of Indian civilisation.
The Somnath Swabhiman Parv, being observed 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 reflection of India’s spiritual heritage, noting that it is being observed across the country with devotion and enthusiasm.
According to the Prime Minister’s schedule, he will arrive in Somnath on Saturday evening and, at around 8 pm, participate in the chanting of the Omkar mantra within the temple premises. The evening programme will conclude with a drone show over the Arabian Sea.
On Sunday morning, January 11, PM Modi will lead the Shaurya Yatra at around 9:45 am. The procession honours those who laid down their lives to protect the shrine during centuries of conflict. The yatra will feature a symbolic one-kilometre roadshow with 108 horsemen dressed in traditional attire.
Following the procession, the Prime Minister will offer prayers and perform darshan and pooja at the Somnath 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.
Organisers said the four-day programme includes 72 hours of uninterrupted Omkar chanting by young priests and saints, along with devotional music evenings and cultural programmes highlighting heritage and national pride.
Situated along Gujarat’s coastline, the Somnath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and continues to be regarded as a powerful symbol of faith, endurance and renewal.
