Gandhinagar: A major cultural and spiritual festival, “Somnath Swabhiman Parva,” symbolising devotion, bravery and India’s civilisational pride, will be held at the first Jyotirlinga, Somnath, from January 8 to 11, Gujarat Government Spokesperson and Protocol Minister Jitubhai Vaghani said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, Vaghani said the event marks a rare historical coincidence: 1,000 years since Mahmud Ghaznavi’s invasion of the Somnath Temple in 1026 AD, and 75 years since Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s resolve to rebuild the shrine after Independence. “This festival will not merely be a religious celebration, but a tribute to the unwavering faith, courage and cultural self-respect of India,” he said.

Prime Minister’s visit on January 10

The programme is being organised so that the nation can remember the history of sacrifice, struggle and resilience associated with Somnath. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Somnath on January 10 at 5:30 pm and will offer prayers at the temple on January 11. After the darshan, he will pay floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Patel located outside the temple premises. He will also take part in a grand roadshow and Shaurya Yatra and address a large public gathering, conveying a message of cultural unity, the minister said.

Highlighting the key attractions, Vaghani said the festival will feature the largest-ever drone show in the region, with 3,000 drones illuminating the sky to depict the history and grandeur of Somnath. A Shaurya Yatra honouring the warriors who laid down their lives defending the temple will also be organised, with a ceremonial procession of 108 horses from Shankh Circle to Hamirji Gohil Circle.

The celebrations will further include the participation of 2,500 saints, along with 72 hours of continuous chanting of ‘Om’ within the temple परिसर. Around 1,000 artists will blow conch shells inside and outside the temple to create a spiritually charged atmosphere. To enhance the scale of the event, nearly 20 stages have been set up across the area for bhajans, folk dances and other cultural performances.

Special transport arrangements

To facilitate large-scale participation, the state government has arranged four special trains daily from Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara on January 8, 9 and 10. The local administration has also ensured arrangements for accommodation, food and darshan for visiting devotees, Vaghani said.

Somnath Corridor and tourism push

The minister noted that under the Prime Minister’s guidance, the Somnath Corridor project has been approved, providing fresh momentum to tourism and economic development in the region. “Like Ayodhya, Kashi and Dwarka, Somnath is emerging as a global spiritual identity of India,” he said, adding that thousands of saints and devotees from across the country are expected to attend.

Vaghani extended an open invitation to citizens to participate in the festival and be part of the collective celebration of India’s cultural self-respect.

Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia, Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja, Minister of State for Energy Kaushik Vekaria, along with local MPs, MLAs and officials, are involved in coordinating the arrangements. DeshGujarat