Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Somnath temple in Gujarat on Sunday, offering prayers for the health and prosperity of the nation. This visit followed a previous commitment he made to worship at Somnath after the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which saw over 66.21 crore attendees. Earlier, he also visited Vantara, an animal rescue and rehabilitation center located near Jamnagar, dedicated to wildlife and community empowerment. Additionally, Modi is set to chair a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife in Sasan Gir on World Wildlife Day and will partake in a lion safari, focusing on the conservation of Asiatic lions.
Gir Somnath:
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects at the esteemed Somnath temple in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district, praying for the health and prosperity of the nation.
After arriving in Gujarat on Saturday evening for a three-day state visit, the PM commenced his day with a visit to Vantara, a center dedicated to animal rescue, conservation, and rehabilitation.
Subsequently, he visited the Somnath temple, known as the first of the 12 jyotirlings, located in Prabhas Patan, where he offered prayers to Lord Shiva. He then moved on to Sasan in the adjoining Junagadh district.
In a tweet, PM Modi mentioned that the visit was in alignment with his commitment to worship Lord Somnath following the conclusion of the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
“‘Ekta ka Maha Kumbh’ (Maha Kumbh of Unity) in Prayagraj was accomplished through the dedication of millions of countrymen. I had promised myself as a servant that after the Maha Kumbh, I would worship Shri Somnath, the foremost of the 12 jyotirlings,” he stated in a tweet.
प्रयागराज में एकता का महाकुंभ, करोड़ों देशवासियों के प्रयास से संपन्न हुआ। मैंने एक सेवक की भांति अंतर्मन में संकल्प लिया था कि महाकुंभ के उपरांत द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग में से प्रथम ज्योतिर्लिंग श्री सोमनाथ का पूजन-अर्चन करूंगा।
आज सोमनाथ दादा की कृपा से वह संकल्प पूरा हुआ है।… pic.twitter.com/7272fczLnw
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2025
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, the 45-day Maha Kumbh at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj attracted over 66.21 crore devotees from both India and abroad.
“By the grace of Somnath Dada, I have fulfilled that resolution today. I dedicate the successful outcome of the Maha Kumbh of Unity on behalf of all citizens to the feet of Shri Somnath Bhagwan. I also wished for their health and prosperity,” PM Modi shared on X.
I had committed to visiting Somnath, the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas, following the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj.
Today, I felt honored to have prayed at the Somnath Mandir. I requested for the prosperity and well-being of every Indian. This temple symbolizes the timeless… pic.twitter.com/oERc1rq9Z8
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2025
Earlier that day, he toured Vantara, which spans over 3,000 acres within the Reliance Jamnagar refinery complex.
This rescue center is dedicated to the welfare of captive elephants and wildlife, offering sanctuary, rehabilitation, and medical care to animals that have been rescued from mistreatment and exploitation.
According to its website, the facility is home to over 2,000 animals across 43 species, equipped with advanced veterinary tools, enclosures that replicate natural habitats, and a dedicated team of more than 2,100 staff members.
The center also focuses on empowering local communities by providing sustainable livelihoods and training in humane animal care practices.
On Sunday evening, the prime minister arrived at Sasan Gir, the hub of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, where he is set to chair a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) in honor of World Wildlife Day on March 3 (Monday).
Prior to the meeting, he is scheduled for a lion safari early Monday morning, according to officials.
The NBWL comprises 47 members, including the Chief of Army Staff, representatives from various states, NGOs involved in wildlife conservation, chief wildlife wardens, and secretaries from different states.
Following the meeting, PM Modi will also engage with some female forest staffers at Sasan, officials disclosed.
The Centre has allocated more than Rs 2,900 crore for Project Lion, aimed at the conservation of Asiatic lions, the only habitat for which is Gujarat.
Currently, Asiatic lions occupy approximately 30,000 square kilometers across 53 talukas in nine districts of Gujarat, as stated in a government release.
Additionally, as part of a central initiative, a National Referral Center for Wildlife is being established over 20.24 hectares in New Pipalya within Junagadh district, it added.
Furthermore, a high-tech monitoring center for wildlife tracking, along with a state-of-the-art hospital, has been established in Sasan to bolster conservation efforts, as mentioned in the release.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)