Somnath Swabhiman Parv: Thousands gather for PM Modi’s visit, drone show and celebrations

Thousands of devotees thronged the Somnath temple complex on Saturday and stayed well past midnight despite winter chills, as fireworks, elaborate decorations and a large-scale drone show, combined with religious fervour, drew an unprecedented crowd to the ancient shrine.

The crowd peaked late in the evening shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the temple as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv. Visitors included people of all age groups, local residents and devotees who travelled long distances.

Prime Minister Modi on Saturday evening participated in ‘Omkar Mantra’ chanting at the Somnath temple, had ‘darshan’, and witnessed a grand drone show featuring an assemblage of 3,000 drones.

Somnath stands as a beacon of eternal divinity. Its sacred presence continues to guide people across generations. Here are highlights from yesterday’s programmes, including the Omkar Mantra chanting and drone show.#SomnathSwabhimanParv pic.twitter.com/lCZxiaauMp

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2026

Preeti Karelia, who travelled from Mumbai in neighbouring Maharashtra along with 24 other women, said the group had come solely to witness the celebrations. The women-only group described itself as a ‘bhajan mandali’ from Mumbai.

“We came today to see Somnath temple, to see our prime minister. This occasion that celebrates the temple and its traditions and resilience is an amazing feeling. The fireworks, the decoration in the streets leading to the temple, the wonderful drone show only added to the power of divinity that has brought so many people to the shrine in just one day,” Karelia told PTI.

The main road leading to the temple, from Shankh Circle to Veer Hamirji Gohil Circle, was decorated with flowers and thematic installations. Mounted lights shaped like ‘trishul’, ‘Om’ and ‘damru’ lined the stretch, along with Somnath Swabhiman Parv posters and flower-made ‘shivalings’.

Large banners across the city displayed the festival’s name and slogans such as ‘Akhand Somnath, Akhand Bharat’, along with lines including ‘Prahar se Punuruthan ka Sakshi, Main Swayambhu Somnath Hun’.

The ornate gateway near Shankh Circle was decorated with flowers. In the evening, a group of folk dance artists from Karnataka, dressed in traditional attire, walked past the gateway, drawing attention from residents who gathered to click photographs.

As dusk fell, the crowds continued to swell. With the Prime Minister’s arrival, a large gathering assembled near the main gates of the temple complex, while security personnel worked to manage the situation.

Among those present were religious figure Bhardwaj Giri, who travelled from Bhavnagar, and veteran politician Girish M Kotecha from neighbouring Junagadh district. Speaking to PTI near the Veer Hamirji Gohil Circle, which has an equestrian statue of the 16th-century Rajput warrior remembered for defending the Somnath temple against invaders, Giri said people like Veer Hamirji fought to “protect the pride of our Hindu shrines”.

The circle, facing the temple complex, was illuminated with lights and floral decorations.

“It’s a celebration of the spirit of Somnath and you can see the joy among the people on this occasion,” Kotecha told PTI.

Even as sections of the crowd left after ‘darshan’, cultural programmes and the drone show, more visitors continued to arrive, including a large number of women who braved the early January chill.

Harsh Shah, who visited the temple complex close to midnight with family members, said, “Somnath baba is pulling people and we also came to see the decorations and lights.”

A nearly 15-minute drone show featured multiple thematic formations, including large images of Lord Shiva and a ‘shivling’, a 3D depiction of the Somnath temple, and visuals highlighting the destruction the historic shrine faced over the centuries, followed by its rise and resilience. The show concluded with a fireworks display.

Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Somnath on Saturday evening on a two-day visit to the temple town, witnessed the show, which was organised as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.

The Parv marks 1,000 years since the Somnath temple’s invasion by Mahmud of Ghazni, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Friday.

After Independence, efforts to restore the temple were undertaken by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. A key milestone was achieved in 1951, when the restored Somnath temple was formally opened to devotees in the presence of then President Rajendra Prasad.

Several visitors were seen clicking photographs near the statue of Patel installed in front of the main ceremonial gate of the temple complex.

The Somnath temple is one of the 12 ‘jyotirlingas’, the holy sites associated with Lord Shiva, in the country.

Local resident and ice-cream vendor Chand Mal, who visited the temple late at night, said he had never seen such crowds before.

“I come here often or on weekends, but I have never seen such a crowd before. It is huge and seems unprecedented. It also feels special today to get His (Lord Shiva’s) blessings,” he said.

A series of programmes are being held from January 8 to 11 as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.

At 9:45 am on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to take part in the ‘Shaurya Yatra’, a ceremonial procession organised to honour those who laid down their lives defending the Somnath temple. The yatra will feature a symbolic procession of 108 horses, reflecting valour and sacrifice, officials said.

The Prime Minister will then offer prayers at the temple at 10:15 am and participate in a public function marking the Somnath Swabhiman Parv at 11 am, before departing for Rajkot.

(With inputs from agencies)