Udaipur, May 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the Somnath temple on May 11 to celebrate the ‘Somnath Amrit Mahotsav’. This event marks the 75th anniversary of the temple’s reconstruction, during which a special Kumbhabhishekam will be performed using water from 11 pilgrimage sites. A five-foot tall vessel will be lifted to the temple’s spire with the help of a crane, with a rehearsal conducted on Sunday.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi reviewed the preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit, which includes a planned roadshow and public gathering. He also inspected the arrangements at the Somnath temple.
Sanghvi stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Jamnagar. People from all walks of life and communities are preparing for a grand welcome.”
DIG Rajendra Singh Chudasama from the Junagadh range mentioned that the roadshow is expected to cover approximately 1.5 kilometers, with around 30,000 to 40,000 attendees anticipated. The rally is also expected to draw a crowd of about 40,000, with a total of over 100,000 people likely to gather.
In preparation for the Somnath Amrit Mahotsav, over 200 traditional drummers from various states performed vibrant presentations in saffron attire.
A dancer expressed her excitement, saying, “We are thrilled that Prime Minister Modi is coming to meet us. We have practiced our welcome today.”
Senior journalist Vaidya shared his memories, stating, “I turned 85 today. When the Somnath Mahadev temple was inaugurated, I was about 10 or 11 years old. I remember holding my family’s hands at that ceremony. The atmosphere back then was indescribable.”
At a public gathering held at the Lal Bangla in Jamnagar, there was significant enthusiasm among the people for the Prime Minister’s arrival. Attendees from West Bengal and other states were present in large numbers at the Lal Bangla Circle, creating a patriotic atmosphere filled with traditional attire, slogans, and cultural colors.