Thousands throng Kumbh Mela at Nashik

The Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the largest congregations of Hindu religion and faith and a melting pot of different Indian cultures, commenced in the ancient pilgrimage town of Nashik and the adjoining temple town of Trimbakeshwar on Tuesday morning, with lakhs of people taking a dip at the holy Godawari river.

At 6:16 am, the traditional flags were hoisted at Ramkund in Nashik town and at Kushavrat teerth at Trimbakeshwar, one of the 12 sacred jotirlingas, which is 30 km away from Nashik town, marking the beginning of the Kumbh Mela.

In Trimbakeshwar, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the main event while in Nashik, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present along with senior colleagues — Finance and Planning Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan and Mahant Gyandas, the president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray too visited Trimbakeshwar and Nashik and offered prayers and met the sadhus who had converged here from the once-in-a-12-year event.

When the flag was hoisted at Nashik, a helicopter hovered over Ramkund, showering flower petals drawing cheers from the devotees who had assembled from all parts of India even as chants of “SiyaRamchandra ki jai”, “Bhakt Hanuiman ki jai”, “Lakhanlal ki Jai”, “Ram Laxman Janki, Jai bolo Hanuman Ki” rent the air.