The Kumbh Mela is a major religious event that sees a massive gathering of devotees. While it poses a big challenge for the state administration to organize the mela and look after the convenience and safety of the devotees, the economic implications of the mela become significant for the local businesses. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken the initiative to ensure that the planning and organization of the Trimbak-Nashik Kumbh Mela 2027 is flawless, declaring that this Simhastha Kumbh Mela will be the most technology-enabled. Recently, the Maha Kumbh Mela was held in Prayagraj, where crores of devotees from across the country and even abroad congregated for a holy dip. To manage this huge influx, the Uttar Pradesh government planned the Mela on a large area of about 7,500 hectares. Also, the Kumbh Mela Act and the Kumbh Mela Authority were formed to ensure that the planning of the Kumbh Mela was smooth. In the same context, the state government is considering creating a separate law and administrative body for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
Importance of the Trimbak-Nashik Kumbh Mela!
Nashik (Trimbakeshwar) is one of the four sacred places where a Kumbh Mela occurs every twelve years. At each of these four sacred places, namely, Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain, a Kumbh Mela happens every twelve years. So, the country witnesses a Kumbh Mela once every three years, rotating between these four places. The Kumbh Mela is the biggest of all Hindu religious events, simply from the sheer number of devotees it draws. Nashik had its turn last time in 2015 and is going to have one again in 2027. The grand event involves ritual bathing on the banks of the Godavari River at the Tribakeshwar Shiva Temple and the Ram Kund in Nashik before offering Arghya to the Sun god. Sadhus and Mahantas of different akhadas take out processions and take a royal bath during the Kumbh Mela.
Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela to be a ‘technology-enabled Kumbh!’
The 2027 Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik is slated to see many lakhs of people thronging the city of Nashik. The state administration, under the Chief Minister Fadnavis, is gearing up for this Kumbh Mela from two years before, in 2025. The CM has vowed that the Nashik Kumbh Mela in 2027 will be the most technology-enabled one, with the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence in all departments, right from planning the event, creating the infrastructure, monitoring and controlling the crowd, organizing road, rail, and air transport, and so on. The CM also spoke about providing an immersive experience to the devotees in the sense that those who cannot take the holy dips in the river for some reason will feel like they are having dips in the Godavari through technology.
Special emphasis on transport facilities
Devotees are likely to come to Nashik for the Kumbh Mela using various routes from Mumbai, Jawhar (Thane), Gujarat, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Shirdi, Dhule, and Pune. Accordingly, the development of roads and parking facilities will be implemented. The administration is also considering banning the use of cars in Nashik city during the Kumbh Mela. For this, adequate parking facilities and e-bus options will be provided at various places for traveling within the city. Also, special facilities will be provided for passengers at Shirdi, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and the Ozar airport. Additional space will be created at Shirdi airport for the parking of aircrafts. Landing facilities for additional aircraft will also be provided at Ozar airport. At the same time, the administration is considering setting up a helipad in Nashik city.
A religious corridor will be created on the occasion of Kumbh Mela
The devotees who will come for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela will also visit nearby religious places like Trimbakeshwar, Shirdi, Vani, Shani Shingnapur, and Mangitungi. For this, a corridor with these religious places will be created, and the renovation works of nearby temples and the facilities there will be increased. The work of Ram Kal Path in Nashik will be completed by next year. Also, the work of conservation of the Trimbakeshwar temple will be undertaken. The work of beautification of the Kushavarta and other tanks will also be done.
Development plan of Rs 1100 crore for Trimbakeshwar
The municipality has prepared a Trimbakeshwar development plan for the Kumbh Mela, which is worth Rs 1100 crore. The plan proposes development works that consider the spiritual and tourism significance of Trimbakeshwar. The state government gave Trimbakeshwar the status of ‘A’ class pilgrimage site about two months ago. Also, a fund of Rs 277 crore will be made available for Trimbakeshwar under the pilgrimage site development scheme. Out of this, Rs 68 crore will be available for the Trimbakeshwar Darshan Marg, Rs 182 crore for new roads in Trimbakeshwar, Rs 15 crore for commercial complexes and parking lots, and Rs 12 crore for public toilets.
Decisions taken in the backdrop of the Kumbh Mela
- To establish a grand convention center near Nashik to showcase the religious traditions, temples, pilgrimage sites, and cultural heritage of the region.
- To effectively brand the Kumbh Mela to bring Nashik to the global stage and boost the local economy.
- To take measures to ensure smooth transportation and crowd management for devotees. To remove encroachments in the city immediately.
- To acquire the land required for Sadhugram. Also, to establish transferable development rights by preparing a town planning plan and transferring it to the municipality.
- To set up 8 to 10 helipads in Nashik to facilitate air travel for tourists and devotees.
- To make the road connecting Nashik to Igatpuri via Samruddhi Highway more spacious.
- To purify the Godavari River and all of its tributaries in the region.
The initiative taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in connection with the Simhastha Kumbh Mela to be held in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar in 2027 is very far-sighted. The concept of ‘Digital Technology Kumbh’ will add modern technology to this traditional and spiritual festival. Keeping in mind the successful planning of Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, the government’s idea of making the planning more efficient and systematic through independent laws and authorities is welcome. This step will give a new identity to the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela at the global level, as well as maintain the safety and convenience for the devotees.
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