Gir Somnath, May 9 (IANS) For the first time since its reconstruction, the shikhar (spire) of the Somnath Temple will witness a Kumbhabhishek ritual using sacred water collected from 11 pilgrimage sites, marking a significant ceremonial development during the ongoing ‘Somnath Amrit Parv-2026’.

The ritual is taking place during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 11, who will perform a grand worship at the Somnath Mahadev shrine in the morning.

The event is expected to bring together traditional temple authorities and priests for the high-altitude ritual at the temple pinnacle.

As part of the ceremony, a large ceremonial kumbh will be lifted externally to a height of around 90 metres using a crane, after which it will be taken to the temple’s shikhar.

Priests accompanying the ritual will perform Vedic chanting as the consecration is carried out using water sourced from 11 revered pilgrimage locations.​

The arrangements form part of the broader ‘Somnath Amrit Parv-2026’ celebrations currently underway in the temple town, which has drawn attention due to the inclusion of this specialised ritual at the reconstructed structure.​

The Kumbhabhishek at the shikhar is being described by organisers as the first of its kind in the temple’s modern history.​

Speaking on the development, Hemal Bhatt, President of the Sompura Brahmin Samaj of traditional temple priests, said: “For the first time in the history of the reconstructed Somnath Temple, Kumbhabhishek will be performed at the shikhar.”​

He further noted that such rituals are generally observed in parts of southern India, where temple spires are periodically consecrated, typically every 10 to 12 years, as part of established religious practice.​

However, he added that this specific form of high-altitude Kumbhabhishek at Somnath has not been performed before.​

The Somnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, has historically undergone multiple cycles of destruction and reconstruction, culminating in the present structure completed in the post-independence era.​

The upcoming ceremony is set to add a new chapter to its ritual practices, with participation expected from priests, temple authorities and visiting dignitaries during the scheduled observance on May 11.​

–IANS

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