showcase of India’s existence and pride, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, the second day of his Gujarat visit, participated in a Shaurya Yatra, a ceremonial procession organised to honour the countless warriors who laid down their lives defending the Somnath Temple. The Shaurya Yatra featured a symbolic procession of 108 horses, reflecting valour and sacrifice. Later, the Prime Minister performed darshan and pooja at the Somnath Temple. He also participated in and addressed a public function in Somnath. The Somnath Swabhiman Parv, being held from 8 to 11 January 2026, is organised at Somnath. It is being held to remember the countless citizens of India whose sacrifices to defend the Temple continue to inspire the cultural consciousness of future generations. The programme marks 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasion of the Somnath Temple in the year 1026. Despite repeated attempts for its destruction over centuries, the Somnath Temple stands today as a powerful symbol of resilience, faith, and national pride, owing to the collective resolve and efforts to restore it to its ancient glory.