Around 1,100 devotees from 23 districts of Haryana, who arrived at the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, participated in the Grand Somnath Maha Aarti on Wednesday evening. During their visit, the devotees also attended a 45-minute light and sound show highlighting the rich history and cultural significance of Shri Somnath Temple.
A memento sent by Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini was presented to the Manager of the Somnath Temple Trust, Sh. Anil Mistry, by officers of the Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Haryana. Prayers were offered during the Maha Aarti for the prosperity and well-being of Haryana.
Notably, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini had flagged off a special train carrying 1,100 devotees from Kurukshetra on June 8 under the ‘Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yatra Yojana’ for a pilgrimage to the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The devotees reached Somnath Temple on Wednesday and offered prayers to Lord Somnath.
The Somnath Temple Trust and the Government of Gujarat had made special VIP arrangements for the temple visit and Jalabhishek for the devotees. Under these arrangements, nearly 1,100 devotees, along with officers and staff members of the Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, offered prayers at the First Jyotirlinga and performed Jalabhishek on the Shivling. All devotees were honoured by the Government of Gujarat and the Temple Trust.
Thereafter, the devotees participated in the 22-minute Maha Aarti of Lord Somnath and prayed for the prosperity and happiness of the state. Subsequently, documentary films based on the Somnath Temple were screened for the devotees.
The documentaries highlighted the temple's millennium-old history, its reconstruction after Independence, and various initiatives for the preservation and promotion of Somnath heritage, including the Somnath Swabhiman Parv launched by Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi. The devotees from Haryana were also taken to nearby pilgrimage sites around the Somnath Temple complex. Excellent arrangements for food, accommodation, and transportation had been made for the pilgrims in Gujarat. The devotees wholeheartedly appreciated these arrangements.
IPRO, Sh. Satyapal Singh, Kurukshetra DIPRO, Dr. Narendra Singh, Bhiwani DIPRO, Sh. Surender Kumar, Superintendent, Sh. Hakim Singh, AIPRO, Sh.Balram Sharma, AIPRO, Sh. Akshay Kumar, Youth Development Officer, Sh. Ashwin Solanki, District Youth Development Officer (Gujarat), Sh. Harish Kumar and several other distinguished guests were present.