Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the Kumbhabhishek ceremony at Somnath Temple as part of the ‘Somnath Amrut Mahotsav’ celebrations, marking 75 years since the temple’s reconstruction. The ceremony, attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, honored the temple’s restoration inaugurated by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.
PM Modi, accompanied by a large crowd, proceeded to the temple after a roadshow in Somnath. Various cultural programs were performed by artists from different regions as the Prime Minister made his way to the temple complex. Participating in rituals like Jalabhishek and Maha Puja, PM Modi also witnessed the unique Kumbhabhishek using holy water from 11 pilgrimage sites.
A 1,860-kg ceremonial vessel was hoisted to the temple’s shikhar using a 90-meter crane for the first-of-its-kind ritual. Before entering the temple, PM Modi paid respects to Sardar Patel’s statue within the premises. The ceremonies were accompanied by Vedic chants and flower petals showered by helicopters over the shrine.
The Somnath Temple, one of Hinduism’s 12 Jyotirlingas, was adorned for the occasion, attracting thousands of devotees amid tight security measures in Gir Somnath district. Over 2,000 security personnel were deployed for the event, emphasizing its significance as a symbol of faith and cultural heritage.
