Overview
- On January 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at Somnath Temple, participated in the ongoing ‘Aum’ recitation, and viewed a drone show that formed Shiva-related motifs.
- The four-day Somnath Swabhiman Parv runs from January 8 to 11 to commemorate roughly 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the shrine in 1026.
- Modi posted images and a message on X describing Somnath as a proud symbol of civilizational courage and thanked residents for the warm welcome.
- Organizers have scheduled a January 11 shaurya yatra with a symbolic procession of 108 horses to honor temple defenders, followed by a public program where Modi is slated to speak.
- Coverage notes an estimated 1.2 million people of Saurashtrian origin in Tamil Nadu, a group some reports suggest the visit could engage ahead of the state poll.