The Rituals and Festivals Celebrated at Somnath Temple

The Somnath Temple, located in Prabhas Patan along the coastline of Gujarat, is one of the most revered places of worship in India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and serves to represent ancient Indian architecture and continuing evidence of the rich spiritual life of the region. Somnath is not simply an act of witnessing the grandeur; it is a rich timbre of ritual, festival, and ongoing devotional life that has existed in Somnath, Gujarat for centuries.

Daily Temple Rituals

The daily rituals of the temple are rich with tradition and begin in the early morning, starting with the Mangal Aarti, which signifies the start of a new day for Lord Shiva. This prayer is an invocation of Lord Shiva and occurs when the temple doors have yet to open, and the uninhibited ringing of bells announces the first devotees of the day.

Following the Mangal Aarti, the Shiv Abhishekam occurs after pouring water, milk, honey, and other sacred offerings over the Shiva Lingam. This ritual signifies the merit, purity, and sanctity of Lord Shiva, symbolizing an invocation to receive his blessings.

The daily worship includes Naivedya, during which food is offered to the deity, and temple priests announce the Aarti throughout the day.

Festivals at Somnath Temple

The Somnath Temple is well known for its energetic festivities celebrating Hindu holidays. Festivals attract pilgrims to experience the grandeur of the festival and participate. Some of the prominent festivals observed at the temple are:

Mahashivaratri
Mahashivaratri, the night of Lord Shiva, is the most important festival at Somnath. Devotees fast, chant mantras, and worship all night. The temple is radiant with lights as each devotee is filled with overwhelming spiritual energy.
People believe that worshipping Lord Shiva on this auspicious night will lead them to Moksha (salvation) while simultaneously washing away their sins. The Shiva Lingam is bathed in a regimented fashion throughout the night with milk, honey, and Ganga Jal, where Brahmins perform an extraordinary aarti. It is a festival where hundreds of devotees flock to the temple from all over India.

Diwali
Diwali at Somnath is nothing less than spectacular. The lighting up of the temple with thousands of oil lamps creates a divine glow. On Diwali day, the entire temple complex is adorned with beautiful rangolis and lighting, and there are chants and aartis serenaded throughout the night.
Diwali is a celebration of the triumph of light over darkness. The temple radiates with excited spiritual energy.

Navratri
Navratri, the nine nights of worship of the Goddess Durga, are celebrated at Somnath with a vibrancy that is not diminished by the fact that the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Navratri is nine nights full of fasting, prayers, and chanting.
Puja is offered at the temple, and the temple complex becomes filled with a special energy generated from worship (from both the goddess and Lord Shiva). The festival culminates in great fanfare with the last day, Dussehra.

Shivaratri 
In addition to Mahashivaratri, one of the Shivaratri celebrations happens every month—the 13th night of the dark half of a lunar month. During worship, devotees fast, conduct rituals, and perform puja to Lord Shiva, asking for health, prosperity, and peace.
The temple festivities are much smaller compared to Mahashivaratri, with devotees going to the temple for a nightly aarti.

Somnath Prabhat Pheri (Morning Procession)
The Prabhat Pheri is a special and unique ritual that takes place in the morning. The devotees walk in a procession with the priests of the temple, singing hymns and mantras. The reason is to ask for the blessings of Lord Shiva to be safe and prosperous.
It is also thought to be an offering of devotion as a symbol of the relationship the devotee feels with Lord Shiva.

Purnima and Ekadashi
Purnima (full moon eve) and Ekadashi (the 11th day in the lunar calendar) are auspicious days to perform rituals and prayers at the Somnath Temple. Numerous devotees come to perform darshan and perform ritual poojas at the temple.
On these occasions, temple priests perform additional aartis, offering prayers for the devotees' ceremonies.

As Somnath Temple has such a rich culture of spirituality, the experience for both devotees and tourists is unique. The rituals and festivals associated with Somnath Temple are not only ceremonies of devotion, but they also provide a way for one to preserve ancient rituals, traditions, and to invoke blessings from God.

Somnath remains a living place of spiritual devotion for daily worship and celebratory festivals alike, such as Mahashivaratri and Diwali, remaining prominent in faith-based ceremonies to worship and as an homage to countless acts of faith.

When it comes to feeling the pulse of devotion to Hinduism and the divine vibrations of Lord Shiva and the holy shrine of Somnath, truly one must visit Somnath Temple—an incredible visit!