Somnath (Gujarat) [India], January 11 : Over 65 elderly members of the Veraval Senior Citizens Trust attended the Shaurya Swabhiman Sabha, wearing matching saffron turbans, expressing patriotic fervour, and extending a warm welcome and honouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a CMO release said.
On this occasion, the President of the Senior Citizens Trust, Veraval, Deepakbhai Tilavat, said, "We take pride in being witnesses to such a historic moment on the sacred land of Somnath. To convey our respect to the Prime Minister, we collectively decided to wear saffron turbans and extend a warm welcome to him.
The enthusiastic participation of senior citizens in this Sabha symbolising valour, self-respect, and national consciousness imbued the entire atmosphere with dignity and inspiration.
The 'Shaurya Yatra' is a symbolic procession organised as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv. It represents courage, sacrifice and the indomitable spirit that preserved Somnath through centuries of adversity.
Ahead of the yatra, 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit arrived to take part in the event.
Somnath Swabhiman Parv, held from January 8 to January 11, 2026, marks 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni's first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026.
The attack marked the start of a long period during which the temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Despite this, Somnath remained deeply rooted in the collective memory of the people. The repeated destruction and revival of the temple is seen as unique in world history, reflecting its continued spiritual and cultural significance.
On Kartak Sud 1, Diwali day, November 12, 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the ruins of Somnath and expressed his resolve to rebuild the temple, calling its restoration vital for restoring India's cultural confidence. The reconstruction, carried out with public support, was completed with the consecration of the present temple on May 11, 1951, in the presence of then President Rajendra Prasad.
In 2026, the country will mark 75 years since the historic consecration ceremony. Revered as the first among the 12 Aadi Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, the Somnath Temple stands along the Arabian Sea with a 150-foot shikhar, symbolising enduring faith and national resolve.