The Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team showcased their skills through aerial maneuvers during the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav at the Somnath Temple on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Vishesh Maha Puja, followed by the Kumbhabhishek and Dhvajarohan ceremonies, which marked the consecration rituals and the raising of the temple flag.
During his visit to the temple, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Modi offered prayers as part of the events celebrating 75 years since the inauguration of the restored temple by India’s first President, Rajendra Prasad. Prior to entering the temple, Modi paid tribute to the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during a roadshow in Somnath, which drew large crowds amid enhanced security measures across key areas of the city.
The Prime Minister’s visit also included the inauguration of Sardar Dham in Vadodara, as noted by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. Ahead of his visit on May 11, Modi published an op-ed reflecting on the temple’s cultural significance and honoring those who safeguarded and restored it over the centuries. He remarked on X, “Wrote an OpEd about my forthcoming visit to Somnath on 11th May and why this day will always be important with respect to Somnath and the greatness of our civilisation. Also paid homage to every person who endured all sorts of challenges yet always protected Somnath and restored its glory.”
In the op-ed, Modi emphasized that the visit commemorates the 75th anniversary of the temple’s restoration by Rajendra Prasad. He also mentioned the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, held earlier this year to mark 1,000 years since the initial attack on the temple, describing Somnath’s history as a journey “from ruin to renewal” or “from Vidhvans to Srijan.”
