Written by Parimal A DabhiAhmedabad | January 8, 2026 01:36 AM IST 4 min readWorkers during renovation work at Mahatma Gandhi Ashram ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's scheduled visit, in Ahmedabad, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (PTI Photo)PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi will arrive in Somnath, Gujarat, on January 10 on a three-day visit to the state, during which he will host and receive Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad on January 12. This will be Merz’s first official visit to India, during which he will also visit Bengaluru in Karnataka.The meeting will take place after Modi inaugurates the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit at Rajkot on January 11. The Modi-Merz meeting will happen at a time when India is aiming at increasing its engagement with Europe amid the US imposing tariffs on Indian goods.A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said, “The two leaders will take stock of the progress made in diverse aspects of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which completed 25 years last year. The discussion will also focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while also advancing collaboration in important domains of defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development and people-to-people relations.”The PM is also likely to visit the Gandhi Ashram in Sabarmati along with the German Chancellor, sources said.The sources added that on January 12, PM Modi is also likely to inaugurate the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. The same day, PM Modi is also likely to inaugurate the Metro route between New Secretariat and Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.About the Somnath event, Gujarat government spokespersons and senior minister Jitu Vaghani said in a release on Wednesday that under the leadership of PM Modi, a grand Somnath Swabhiman Parv has been organised in Somnath, the first jyotirlinga, between January 8 and 11. The Swabhiman Parv will mark the occasion of 1,000 years of the first attack on Somnath temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 and 75 years of restoration of the temple in 1951. Vaghani said that this won’t just be a religious festival but will prove to be a “symbol of Indian culture’s unbreakable faith and self-esteem.”Vaghani said that Somnath Swabhiman Parv has been planned under the guidance of PM Modi so that the entire country can remember the history of Somnath’s bravery and struggle. He added that thousands of Sadhu-Sant from across the country will join the celebration.Story continues below this adPM Modi will arrive in Somnath on January 10 evening. The next day, he will offer prayers at the temple and participate in the Swabhiman Parv. He will offer floral tributes to a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel outside the temple. He will then join a grand roadshow and a Shaurya Yatra before addressing a public meeting in Somnath while giving a message of cultural unity to the people.Vaghani also highlighted some salient attractions of the Swabhiman Parv, including a drone show by 3,000 drones exhibiting Somnath’s magnificent history. The Shaurya Yatra has been planned to pay tributes to those who sacrificed their lives for defending Somnath temple. It will have 108 horses.Moreover, 2,500 youths will recite mantras in the campus of Somnath temple continuously for 72 hours. With that, 1,000 artists will blow the conch ‘to make the atmosphere full of Lord Shiva’. Also, 20 grand stages have been set up in the area where cultural programmes on ‘Shiv Bhakti’ will be organised.Vaghani said that to ensure that maximum people from the state can join the Swabhiman Parv in big numbers, facilities of special trains have been made. Four special trains will run from Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara on January 8, 9 and 10. The local administration has also ensured arrangements of boarding and lodging and temple visit for the visitors.Story continues below this adLater in the day on January 11, PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for the Saurashtra-Kutch region of the state at Marwadi University in Rajkot. After organising 10 editions of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit at the state level, the Gujarat government has started organising four regional summits in the state. And the first of it – for north Gujarat – was held at Mehsana in October.“We are awaiting the finalised plan of the PM’s engagements during the three-day tour,” a senior government official said. Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region. Expertise & Authority Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues: Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani. Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters. Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis: State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys. Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:ahmedabadNarendra Modi