‘Vande Somnath’ cultural evenings on Shravan Mondays in Somnath

Prabhas Patan: For the first time, the Somnath Mahadev temple in Gujarat will host a spiritual-cultural series titled ‘Vande Somnath’, showcasing classical dance performances inspired by Lord Shiva, including his Nataraj form, every Monday during the holy month of Shravan.

The initiative, jointly organised by the Gujarat Tourism Department, Somnath Trust, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, aims to blend sacred performance with devotion and heritage. Renowned artists from across India will perform in front of the temple, celebrating Shiva through dance and music.

The program will be held on all six Mondays of Shravan—July 14, 21, 28, and August 4, 11, and 18, 2025—at Shri Somnath Mandir Chowpati, along the Promenade Walkway and the road leading to Sagar Darshan Bhavan. The temple premises are set to become a confluence of faith, culture, and artistry, and devotees have been invited to witness this first-of-its-kind celebration.

In addition, GSRTC has introduced a special daily AC Volvo bus service from Ranip, Ahmedabad to Somnath for devotees. As part of a two-day, one-night tour package, the bus departs daily at 6:00 AM and reaches Somnath by 4:00 PM. The round-trip fare is ₹4,000 for one person and ₹7,050 for two people. The package includes travel, snacks, two meals, overnight hotel stay, and guide services.

Tour highlights include the Light and Sound Show at Somnath, Aarti at Triveni Sangam, and visits to Bhalka Tirth, Ram Mandir, and Geeta Mandir. The return journey departs from Somnath at 9:30 AM the following day and arrives in Ranip, Ahmedabad by 10:30 PM.

Under the coordination of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Vadodara, the following renowned artists and dance troupes will present various performances:

Date Name/Institution Dance Form
14 July Shri Pavitra Bhat & Team Bharatanatyam
Shri Kadamb Parikh & Team Kathak
Dhruba Institute of Dance Foundation Bharatanatyam
21 July Shri Ameera Patankar & Team Kathak
Shri Reema Shrikant & Team Bharatanatyam
Smt. Sonal Performing Arts Hudo
28 July Shri Anand Sachidanand & Team Bharatanatyam
Smt. Leena Malkar & Team Kathak
Dr. Parul Shah & Team Bharatanatyam
4 August Shri Krishnendu Saha & Team Odissi
Smt. Arundhati Patwardhan & Team Bharatanatyam
Shri Ramchandra Pulavar & Team Shadow Puppetry
Smt. Smitha Shastri & Team Kuchipudi
11 August Smt. Vishnupriya Marar Mohiniyattam
Shri Subrata Tripathi & Team Odissi
SPA Institute of Dance Tippani Dance
Dr. Dhyuti Pandya, Tatva Dance Academy Kathak
18 August Smt. Lipsa Satpathy & Team Odissi
Smt. Madhumita Roy Chowdhury & Team Kathak
Nityam – Academy of Bharatanatyam Bharatanatyam
Kadamb Centre for Dance Kathak