The Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela formally began on Saturday, 31 October 2026 with the dhwajarohan (flag hoisting). President Droupadi Murmu performed rituals at Ramkund on the Godavari in Nashik and hoisted the flag, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hoisted the traditional flag at a parallel ceremony in Trimbakeshwar at 12:02 pm, PTI reported. Governor Jishnudev Varma and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar attended.
What happened around the ceremony
- On Friday, 30 October, the Simhastha Mahadhwaj Gram Parikrama set out from Tapovan Maidan, passed through Ramtirth Panchavati with saints, mahants and thousands of devotees, and ended at Ramkund.
- About 5,000 police personnel were deployed for the ceremony, with drones used to watch the crowds, according to Lokshahi.
- When the Chief Minister invited the President on 21 October, the programme also listed a Godavari Aarti, the launch of the Kumbh Mela Authority’s website, a Kumbh song, a commemorative postal stamp and a coffee-table book.
The Simhastha calendar ahead
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Flag hoisting, start of Simhastha | 31 October 2026 | Held |
| First Amrit Snan (Ashadh Somvati Amavasya) | Monday, 2 August 2027 | Announced by Maharashtra government |
| Second Amrit Snan / Mahakumbh snan (Shravan Amavasya) | Tuesday, 31 August 2027 | Announced |
| Third Amrit Snan (Bhadrapada Shuddha Ekadashi) | Saturday, 11 September 2027 | Announced; confirm the exact Trimbakeshwar date nearer the time |
The snan schedule was announced in June 2025 in the presence of seers, mahants and the Chief Minister. The Simhastha is held at both places together: Ramkund in Nashik and Kushavarta Tirth in Trimbakeshwar, beside one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
What it means for yatris
- The big days are in 2027: the flag hoisting opens the Simhastha period, but the largest crowds will come on the three Amrit Snan days in August and September 2027, during the monsoon.
- Check ghat access: in mid-October the administration restricted entry to Ramkund and nearby ghats for 15 to 20 days because of ongoing works, asking devotees to perform rituals elsewhere (except Dashakriya Vidhi). Ask locally before planning a snan in November.
- Book early for August–September 2027: rooms in Nashik and Trimbak will be in short supply near snan dates.
- Combine with darshan: many families add Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga darshan, Panchavati and Shirdi to a Simhastha visit.
Plan with us
Our Trimbakeshwar, Shirdi and Aurangabad Yatra starts from Nashik. Read our Simhastha Kumbh 2027 guide and the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga guide. To plan around a snan date, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
