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India Gazette
3 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
In a spiritual shift, Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 to replace 'Shahi Snan' with 'Amrit Snan'
Nashik (Maharashtra) [India], June 1 (ANI): The upcoming Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 will witness a significant traditional change, as the age-old practice of 'Shahi Snan' or royal bath will be replaced with 'Amrit Snan' for the first time. This decision was taken during a meeting of the Akhara Parishad and the Kumbh Mela organisers with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nashik on Sunday. 'The Kumbh Mela is held at four locations across the country Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik and it takes place based on where the drops of Amrit fell. The term Shahi Snan was introduced during the Mughal era. Therefore, this tradition is now being changed, and the Shahi Snan will henceforth be referred to as Amrit Snan. This decision was taken after discussions during a meeting between all 13 Akharas and the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nashik,' Mahant Bhakti Charan Das, spokesperson of All India Vaishnav Akhara told ANI. The move aims to infuse the event with a deeper spiritual and religious essence, steering it away from the display of grandiosity and power. Saints from various Akharas have stressed that the bathing ritual should symbolize spiritual discipline rather than royal pageantry. 'Referring to the sacred bath as 'Amrit Snan' aligns more closely with the true purpose of the event,' said Mahant Bhakti Charan Das. According to Hindu beliefs, bathing during the Kumbh Mela cleanses one of all sins. The name 'Amrit Snan' draws from the mythological tale of the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), where drops of divine nectar--Amrit--were believed to have fallen at the Kumbh sites, including Nashik. The Akharas view 'Amrit Snan' as a return to the festival's spiritual roots, ensuring the focus remains on devotion, penance, and salvation rather than spectacle. Earlier today, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said preparations have been underway following discussions with chiefs of various Akharas ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 in Nashik. 'A meeting was organised in relation to the Kumbh Mela of Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, in which the 13 major Akharas were also present. We discussed the event in the presence of all the Mahants, saints, priests... This time the fair is going to be long, so people will get to see many important 'Amrit Snan' dates and holy festivals...,' CM Fadnavis told reporters here. He also said that the government has come up with a plan to ensure the cleanliness of the Godavari River.'A plan has also been prepared to ensure that our Godavari Maa flows clean and uninterrupted... Works worth Rs 2,000 crores are in the pipeline. Overall, preparations have been made here so that a divine and grand fair is held,' CM Fadnavis said. The Nashik Kumbh, one of the largest religious gatherings in India, is held once every 12 years, where devotees come to take a holy bath on the banks of the Godavari River. The Maharashtra government is focused on ensuring smooth arrangements, including sanitation, security, and infrastructure development. Key decisions are expected to be finalized in the coming months. (ANI)
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela to begin on October 31, 2026
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday held a meeting with the chiefs 13 main akhadas (monastic orders) and representatives of the Purohit Sangh to discuss the preparations for the upcoming Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela to begin on October 31, 2026, with a traditional flag hoisting at Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund in Nashik. On July 29, 2027, 'Nagar Pradakshina' (a procession carrying the idol around the city in a clockwise direction) will be held at Nashik. The first 'Amrut Snan' (ritual dip) in the Godavari river will happen on August 2, 2027, the second one will take place on August 31, 2027, the third in Nashik on September 11, 2027, and fourth one on September 12, 2027, at Trimbakeshwar. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela held once in 12 years, will wind up on July 24, 2028. Speaking to journalists after the meeting with the priests and temple heads in Nashik, Mr. Fadnavis said that this will the world's biggest event and the arrangements will amaze everyone around the world. 'We have issued tenders of works costing ₹ 4,000 crore and another tender for work costing ₹ 2,000 crore will also be issued soon. A development plan of ₹681 crores for Choundi, the birthplace of Ahilyadevi Holkar is also announced today. We are in the process of preserving the ghats constructed by her,' the CM said. Speaking about the meeting, the CM said, 'Today we discussed on the progress of the ongoing work on the sewage treatment plant, cleaning of Godavari river and land acquisition for 'Sadhugram'. To make sure there is no stampede-like-situation, we have announced the 'Amrut Snan' dated already and kepts the program running on a long stretch so that no devotee has to rush for special holy bath. We are working in advance to make sure every experience at Simhastha Kumbh Mela becomes a memorable one with safety of people and keeping the environment sacred and pute for every person who attends it.' The State government has also accepted suggestions from Mahant Rajendradas Maharaj during the meeting that 'Shahi Snan' should be called 'Amrut Snan' like it was done in the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh. 'With the kind of preparations, we are making to turn into a magnificent and memorable event, the world will be left awestruck looking at our ancient culture. We are working as per the feedback of the akharas, sadhus and mahants to provide the best possible amenities. Unlike 2015 Kumbh when there was little time to prepare, this time we have ample time on our hands to do a thorough preparation. Our priority is also to maintain the purity of Godavari river and for that we have planned for an uninterrupted river flow that will ensure clean water during and after the event,' the CM added. On quality infrastructure, the CM said a concrete road network is under progress across Nashik and Trimbakeshwar with crowd management plans at places like Kushavarta in Trimbakeshwar. Nashik will host a total of 44 auspicious bathing events, and Trimbakeshwar will host 53, including auspicious holy baths on Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya, Vaidhriti, and Vyatipata yogas.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
CM Fadnavis chairs 2027 Nashik Kumbh Mela prep meet, assures smooth arrangements
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Nashik on Sunday to chair a key preparatory meeting for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, slated to be held in 2027 and ensured that the grand event will be held smoothly. The meeting was attended by seers from 13 prominent akharas along with representatives from various government agencies involved in planning the mega spiritual gathering. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Fadnavis said: "A meeting was organised regarding the Kumbh Mela, in which the 13 prominent Akharas were present. Saints, sadhus, and mahants all participated. We held discussions regarding the arrangements for the event." He said that important aspects like event scheduling, infrastructure planning, crowd management, and the issue of pollution in the Godavari River were discussed in depth. "The dates for the important events were also fixed, and the announcements regarding the same will soon be made…How to manage the crowd of pilgrims will also be seen. Godavari pollution was also discussed," he added. Fadnavis further noted that every effort would be made to ensure that the 2027 Kumbh Mela is organised smoothly with a focus on cleanliness, convenience, and coordination among departments. Mahant Rajendra Das Ji Maharaj of Abha Nirvani Akhara, also known as the Nirvani Akhara, stated that the date for the Amrit Snan would be declared soon. Raising a significant cultural point, he echoed the demand of several seers to replace the term Shahi Snan with Amrit Snan. Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad national spokesperson, Bhakti Charan Das Maharaj, said: "The recent decision follows the precedent set during the previous Kumbh Mela held in Prayagraj, where the term 'Shahi Snan' was replaced with 'Amrit Snan' after extensive discussions among scholars and saints." "The word 'Shahi' is believed to have Mughal-era origins, and many experts agreed it was inappropriate in a spiritual context. The new term reflects Indian spiritual values more accurately," he said. In the meeting, the seers also pressed for land reservations specific to the Nashik Kumbh Mela, stronger enforcement against pollution of the sacred Godavari, and the creation of a dedicated Kumbh Mela authority to ensure better amenities for saints and devotees. Addressing reporters, Nirmohi Akhara's Rajendra Das Maharaj said, "We pray to the sacred Godavari River that this Kumbh Mela becomes grand and divine. The arrangements of Amrit Snan and other requirements were discussed with the Chief Minister." The 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik is expected to witness participation from millions of pilgrims and saints, like as seen in the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh this year.
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
India begins investigation after 30 killed in Kumbh Mela stampede
Indian authorities have launched an investigation into the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela that killed at least 30 people early on Wednesday and left 60 injured. Millions of Hindu pilgrims have arrived at the festival in Prayagraj in the northern Uttar Pradesh state to take a 'holy bath' at the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The state government took almost 16 hours to provide any death toll after senior police officers initially dismissed the report of a stampede, which took place about 1km away from the confluence called Sangam. "The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done," Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath told reporters late on Wednesday after refusing to call the incident a stampede the entire day. 'For this, we have formed a three-member judicial commission, which will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit.' He said the crush occurred when pilgrims tried to jump barricades erected for a procession of naked, ash-smeared ascetic men. Reuters quoted police sources as claiming that around 40 dead bodies had been brought to a local hospital morgue in Prayagraj. It is unclear why there is a discrepancy between ground reports and the official death toll. 'More bodies are coming in. We have nearly 40 bodies here,' one of the sources said from the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College hospital. 'We are transferring them out as well and handing them over to families one by one.' Families of the victims blamed the police for not making proper arrangements to manage the crowd on what was expected to be one of the busiest days of the festival, the Mauni Amavasya or new moon day. "Police didn't make proper arrangements. They are responsible for this,' said Saroja, a pilgrim from the southern city of Belagavi who lost four family members in the stampede. The Uttar Pradesh government, however, praised the police, saying their "swift and effective response ... prevented a potential tragedy". Opposition leaders blamed the stampede on mismanagement and the prioritising of access to the river for VIPs, and urged the state government to improve festival arrangements. Nearly 76 million people had taken a 'holy dip', called Shahi Snan, at Sangam until 8pm local time on Wednesday, officials said. The six-week festival, held once every 12 years, was expected to draw nearly 400 million devotees, making it the largest religious gathering in the world.
