Somnath Swabhiman Parv: PM Modi To Attend Historic 1,000-Year Resilience Festival In Gujarat

On this Special Report, India Today's Gujarat Bureau Chief Brijesh Doshi reports on the commencement of the 'Somnath Swabhiman Parv' in Gujarat. The four-day festival, running from January 8 to 11, commemorates 1,000 years since the Somnath Temple's resilience against the invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 AD. Brijesh Doshi highlights that the event will 'showcase the unwavering faith and the self-respect for the Indian culture'. Key celebrations include a 72-hour continuous 'Omkar Jap' across 243 temples and a massive drone show featuring 3,000 drones depicting the temple's history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit on January 11 to offer prayers and address a public meeting. The festival also marks 75 years since Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel initiated the temple's reconstruction.