| Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha | |
|---|---|
 2015 Kumbh Mela at Nashik | |
| Status | active |
| Genre | Fair |
| Frequency | Every 12 years |
| Venue | Banks ofGodavari river |
| Locations | Trimbak andNashik |
| Country | India |
| Previous event | 2015 |
| Next event | 31 October 2026– 24 July 2027[1] |
| Participants | Akharas, pilgrims |
| Website | kumbhmela2015 |
Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha is aHindu religiousmela held every 12 years in theNashik district ofMaharashtra, India. The name of the festival is also transliterated asSinhastha orSinghastha. It is one of the four fairs traditionally recognized asKumbha Melas, and is also known asNashik-Trimbak Kumbha Mela orNashik Kumbha Mela.
The fair involves ritual bathing on the banks ofGodavari river, at theTrimbakeshwar Shiva Temple (inTrimbak) and the Ram Kund inNashik. Until 1789, the fair was held only at Trimbak, but after a clash betweenVaishnavites andSaivites, theMarathaPeshwa segregated the Vaishnavites to the Nashik city.
According to the HinduPuranic texts,Vishnu dropped drops ofamrita (the drink of immortality) at four places, while transporting it in akumbha (pot). These four places, including Nashik, are identified as the present-day sites of the Kumbh Mela. The age of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha is uncertain, but its association with thekumbha myth is relatively recent, dating back to the 20th century. TheNasik District Gazetteer published during the 19th century, does not mention the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe the local Simhastha fair.[2] The earliest extant texts that contain the name "Kumbha Mela" areKhulasat-ut-Tawarikh (1695 CE) andChahar Gulshan (1789 CE). Both these texts use the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe only theHaridwar Kumbh Mela, although they mention the Simhastha fair at Nashik.[3] It appears that the Nashik Simhastha adapted thekumbh (and the name Kumbh Mela) from the Haridwar Kumbh Mela.[4] TheUjjain Simhastha, in turn, is an adaptation of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha: it began in the 18th century, when theMaratha rulerRanoji Shinde invited ascetics from Nashik toUjjain for a local festival.[5]
TheKhulasat-ut-Tawarikh (1695 CE) mentions the mela in its description of theBerar Subah, although it doesn't use the terms "Kumbh Mela" or "Simhastha" to describe it. It states that when Jupiter enteredLeo orSimha (which happens once in 12 years), people from far away would come to Trimbak for a large gathering which was famous in all parts of theMughal Empire.[6]
Until 1789, the fair was originally held at Trimbak, a town near the Nashik city. That year, a clash happened betweenShaivitesanyasis andVaishnavitebairagis over order of precedence of bathing, which indicated the status of theakharas. Acopperplate inscription of the MarathaPeshwa claims that 12,000 ascetics died in this clash.[7] As a result, the Peshwa shifted the Vaishnavites' bathing place to Ramkund in the Nashik city.[5] The Shaivites continue to regard Trimbak as the proper location of the fair.[8]
In 1861 and 1872, fights erupted at Trimbak, when someNirmala sadhus attempted to walk naked in a procession, in imitation of a rival sect. Their rivals, as well as the British managers who wanted to keep peace, opposed them. The British administration proposed banning public nudity at the next Simhastha, but the proposal was opposed by theNaga sadhus and ultimately rejected by the British authorities.[9]
When the Kumbh Mela was held in Nashik, India, from 27 July to 7 September 2003, 39 pilgrims (28 women and 11 men) were trampled to death and 57 were injured. Devotees had gathered on the banks of theGodavari river for themaha snaanam or holy bath. Over 30,000 pilgrims were being held back by barricades in a narrow street leading to the Ramkund, a holy spot, so thesadhus could take the first ceremonial bath. Reportedly, a sadhu threw some silver coins into the crowd and the subsequent scramble led to the stampede.[10][11]
In 2015, the Kumbha Mela was held at Nashik-Trimbak during July–September.[12]
With nearly 30 million devotees gathered in 2015, the mela gave a unique opportunity to test out a range of smart solutions. One of the projects conducted here was by MIT, called the "Kumbhathon", that tried to identify ways to improve crowd and civic management during intense periods of mass migration[13]
The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha is held once in 12 years. The exact dates are determined according to a combination ofzodiac positions: the mela ay be held whenJupiter is inLeo (Simha inHindu astrology); or when Jupiter,Sun andMoon are inCancer on lunar conjunction (Amavasya).[14]
The last fair was held in 2015; the next one will be held in 2027.
In recent years, the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha has implemented various technological solutions to manage large crowds and enhance the pilgrim experience. These initiatives involve collaborations between local innovators, academic institutions, and technology companies. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, in partnership with local organizations, launched "Kumbhathon" to develop solutions for the 2015 Kumbh Mela, addressing crowd management, food distribution, and public health issues.[15][16]
Led by ProfessorRamesh Raskar of theMIT Media Lab and involving team members includingJohn Werner,[17] the Kumbhathon initiative brought together local entrepreneurs, engineers, and students to create innovative solutions.[18]
Key advancements included:
The collaboration between MIT Media Lab, local innovators, and various stakeholders demonstrated the potential of technology in transforming large-scale religious gatherings and urban environments.[15][19]
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