NASHIK: The Kumbh Mela began in Nasik (Nashik) and Trimbakeshwar on Tuesday with the traditional ceremony of hoisting of flags. Thousands of people took the holy dip in Kushawart and Ramkund in Godavari river. The festival will last for 58 days till August 11.
In Trimbakeshwar, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and State Women and
Child Welfare minister Pankaja Munde presided over the ceremony while Chief
Minister Devendra Fadnavis was at the Nashik ceremony.
Kumbh Mela is a pilgrimage of Hindus who gather to bathe in a holy river. Last Kumbh at Allahabad was the world's largest religious gathering even to take place. Kumbh is held every 12 years. But since it is held at four places, every third year it takes place by rotation. The places are Allahabad or Prayag ie
Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers), Haridwar (Ganga river), Nashik (Godavari river) and Ujjain (Shipra river). Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela is held at only Hardwar and Allahabad, every sixth years.
The Nashik Kumbh comes every 12 years, where Godavari originates. The Kumbh here was due in 2015 and it has begun, attracting millions of devotees from around the world. The holy town nearby is called Trimbakeshwar, where is located one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country.
The four places are where, according to mythology, the elixir of immortality called 'amrit' fell to earth from a pitcher carried away following a tussle between the gods and demons after its recovery from the oceans.