Thousands of devotees thronged the Somnath temple complex on Saturday, staying out well past midnight, braving winter chills, as dazzling fireworks, decorations and a drone show combined with religious fervour drew an unprecedented crowd to the ancient shrine. The crowd, which peaked late in the evening shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to the temple as part of Somnath Swabhiman Parv, included people of all ages, local residents as well as long-distance travellers. Modi on Saturday evening participated in `Omkar Mantra` chanting at the Somnath temple, had `darshan`, and also witnessed a grand drone show featuring an assemblage of 3,000 drones, matching the scale of the gathering on ground.

Preeti Karelia, along with 24 other women, travelled from Mumbai in neighbouring Maharashtra just to witness the celebrations. "We came today to see Somnath temple, to see our prime minister. This occasion that celebrates the temple and its traditions and resilience is an amazing feeling.