PM Modi Leads Shaurya Yatra as Somnath Marks 1,000 Years of Resilience

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led the Shaurya Yatra , a ceremonial procession held to honour those who sacrificed their lives defending the Somnath temple in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district . The yatra, organised as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv , featured 108 horses , symbolising valour and heroism, and attracted large crowds of devotees who lined the one-kilometre-long route.

Accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel , PM Modi waved to the public from a specially designed vehicle as the procession moved through the town. He later offered prayers at the Somnath temple and participated in a public function commemorating the temple’s enduring legacy.

The event marks 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasion in 1026 , and celebrates the resilience of the temple despite repeated attempts at destruction over centuries. The Somnath temple, a revered Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva , has become a symbol of faith, cultural pride, and national resilience , inspiring generations with its history of reconstruction and preservation.