Bihar’s Samrat Chaudhary Leads Over 1,100 Devotees to Somanath Temple on July 20

In Patna on July 19, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary revealed plans for a grand pilgrimage to the Somanath Temple scheduled for July 20. More than 1,100 pilgrims will board a dedicated train from Patliputra Junction, heading toward the revered site. Chaudhary framed the expedition as a cultural resurgence, linking the nation’s historic past with present-day reverence. He noted that 2026 holds dual significance: it marks a thousand years since the temple endured a savage invasion and celebrates 75 years of restoration championed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the nation’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The state has arranged a full suite of services—food, medical care, security, lodging, and other logistics—to make the pilgrimage seamless. The CM emphasized that such journeys reinforce cultural identity, foster unity, and boost national pride. He concluded with a prayer for safety and prosperity, ending with the traditional chants "Har Har Mahadev" and "Jai Somanath."