Hon'ble Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Rekha Gupta officially flagged off the Somnath Swabhiman Parv Yatra from Safdarjung Railway Station, Delhi, at 10:00 AM on 30 April 2026.
The train, carrying over 1,300 devotees, is headed to the Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat as part of a year-long commemoration of the 1,000 years of unwavering faith, devotion, and indomitable courage of Somnath. Other dignitaries present at the event included Shri Kapil Mishra, Hon'ble Minister of Labour, Law and Justice, Employment, Development, Art, Culture, and Tourism for the Government of NCT Delhi.
In addition to this journey, several yatras and state and regional events are being organised across the country to celebrate this historic occasion. The Ministry of Culture has launched a special campaign titled 'Chalo Chalein Somnath' to encourage people to participate in these events and connect with India’s spiritual, historical, and cultural heritage.
The special train is expected to arrive in Somnath on May 1, where the devotees will engage in various activities over the next three days. These will include devotional music, aarti, visits to the Somnath temple, and a light and sound show, among other events.
For more information on the 'Somnath Swabhiman Parv' and related activities, please visit: https://amritkaal.nic.in/somnath-swabhiman-parv
