Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a significant 'Shaurya Yatra' at Somnath, Gujarat, on January 11, 2026, as part of the ongoing Somnath Swabhiman Parv. This four-day commemoration, held from January 8 to 11, 2026, marks 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the Somnath Temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 AD, celebrating the temple's enduring spirit, resilience, and civilisational continuity. The 'Shaurya Yatra' was a ceremonial procession organized to honor the countless warriors who sacrificed their lives defending the historic Somnath Temple over centuries. During the event, PM Modi led the procession while standing in an open, specially designed vehicle, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. A key highlight of the yatra was a symbolic procession of 108 horses, drawn from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit, reflecting valor and sacrifice. These horses, including locally bred Kathiawadi and Marwadi breeds, had undergone specialized training for the event. Visuals from the yatra showed Prime Minister Modi actively engaging with the cultural aspects, carrying and briefly playing a damroo (traditional drum) in his hand, and also blowing a conch shell while greeting large crowds that had gathered along the one-kilometer route. Following the procession, the Prime Minister offered prayers, performed 'darshan' and 'puja' at the Somnath Temple. He also paid floral tributes to statues of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Veer Hamirji Gohil, who played crucial roles in the temple's restoration and defense. The event underlined India's rich cultural and spiritual heritage, reaffirming its civilizational confidence and collective pride.