Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha

Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha is a Hindu religious mela held every 12 years in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, India. The name of the festival is also transliterated as ''Sinhastha'' or ''Singhastha''. It is one of the four fairs traditionally recognized as Kumbha Melas, and is also known as Nashik-Trimbak Kumbha Mela or ''Nashik Kumbha Mela''.

The fair involves ritual bathing on the banks of Godavari river, at the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple (in Trimbak) and the Ram Kund in Nashik. Until 1789, the fair was held only at Trimbak, but after a clash between Vaishnavites and Saivites, the Maratha Peshwa segregated the Vaishnavites to the Nashik city.

History

Origins

According to Hindu Puranas, Vishnu dropped drops of amrita (the drink of immortality) at four places, while transporting it in a ''kumbha'' (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 the ''kumbha'' myth is relatively recent, dating back to the 20th century. The ''Nasik District Gazetteer'' published during the 19th century does not mention the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe the local Simhastha fair. The earliest extant texts that contain the name "Kumbha Mela" are '' Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh'' (1695 CE) and '' Chahar Gulshan'' (1789 CE). Both these texts use the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe only the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, although they mention the Simhastha fair at Nashik. It appears that the Nashik Simhastha adapted the ''kumbh'' (and the name Kumbh Mela) from the Haridwar Kumbh Mela. The Ujjain Simhastha, in turn, is an adaptation of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha: it began in the 18th century, when the Maratha ruler Ranoji Shinde invited ascetics from Nashik to Ujjain for a local festival. As per Shiv Puran, brihaspati (Jupiter) enters Singh Rashi (Leo) every 12 years. The Kumbh mela is organized for same occasion.

Mughal era

The ''Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh'' (1695 CE) mentions the mela in its description of the Berar Subah, although it doesn't use the terms "Kumbh Mela" or "Simhastha" to describe it. It states that when Jupiter entered Leo or ''Simha'' (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 the Mughal Empire.

Maratha era

Until 1789, the fair was originally held at Trimbak, a town near the Nashik city. That year, a clash happened between Shaivite ''sanyasis'' and Vaishnavite ''bairagis'' over order of precedence of bathing, which indicated the status of the akharas. A copperplate inscription of the Maratha Peshwa claims that 12,000 ascetics died in this clash. As a result, the Peshwa shifted the Vaishnavites' bathing place to Ramkund in the Nashik city. The Shaivites continue to regard Trimbak as the proper location of the fair.

British era

In 1861 and 1872, fights erupted at Trimbak, when some Nirmala 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 the Naga sadhus and ultimately rejected by the British authorities.

Independent India

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 the Godavari river for the ''maha 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 the sadhus could take the first ceremonial bath. Reportedly, a sadhu threw some silver coins into the crowd and the subsequent scramble led to the stampede.

In 2015, the Kumbha Mela was held at Nashik-Trimbak during July–September.

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

Dates

The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha is held once in 12 years. The exact dates are determined according to a combination of zodiac positions: the mela ay be held when Jupiter is in Leo (''Simha'' in Hindu astrology); or when Jupiter, Sun and Moon are in Cancer on lunar conjunction (Amavasya).

The last fair was held in 2015; the next one will be held in 2027.

Technological Initiatives

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.

Led by Professor Ramesh Raskar of the MIT Media Lab and involving team members including John Werner, the Kumbhathon initiative brought together local entrepreneurs, engineers, and students to create innovative solutions.

Key advancements included:

* Crowd Steering: A system utilizing mobile phone data to monitor and manage crowd flow.

* Smart Street Food: An app connecting pilgrims with local food vendors, improving food distribution and hygiene.

* Pop-up Housing: Low-cost housing solutions for temporary accommodations during the event.

* Health Monitoring: Wearable devices and mobile apps for tracking health metrics and providing real-time medical assistance.

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.

References

Bibliography

* कुम्भ मेला और साधु समागम- अमरत्व की खोज : बद्री नारायण एवं केदार नारायण पिल्ग्रिम्स पब्लिशिंग्स, (भारत) 2010,
* Kumbh Mela and The Sadhus – The Quest for Immortality; Authors: Badri Narain and Kedar Narain PILGRIMS PUBLISHINGS, (INDIA) 2010
*

External links

Official website

{{Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela
Nashik district
August observances
September observances
Hindu festivals