As they stepped down from the steps at Ramkund in Nashik into the holy waters of the Godavari, the faces of the saints lit up. Some of them let out a religious cry and took a dip before their followers sprayed them with water. A few of them also danced joyously as they hit the water.
The “Shahi Snan” or the Royal bath of the saints and sadhus officially began proceedings for regular pilgrims to take their holy dip during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Tens of thousands of pilgrims and followers of various Vaishnavite and Shaivsite Akhadas (religious groups), far lower than the one crore people expected by the administration, took the holy dip at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.
Travel restrictions imposed by the police at both venues, however, caused discomfort to pilgrims, especially older people and pilgrims with children. With no private vehicles or state transport buses allowed within a radius of 7 to10 km of the bathing sites, pilgrims were forced to walk all the way to the ghats.
Unlike the Kumbh Mela at Prayag, Ujjain and Haridwar, the Kumbh Mela in Nashik is different as Vaishnavites and Shaivites take their holy dip separately.
The “Shahi Snan” in Nashik began around 6.30 a.m. with a procession from Tapovan, led by the All India Akhada Parishad president, Mahanth Gyandas Maharaj, and reached Ram Kund around 7.15 a.m. Vaishnav Akhadas — Nimohi Aai Akahada, Nirvani Akhada and Digambar Akhada — took part in the procession and the holy dip in Nashik.
At Trimbakeshwar, the procession was led by led by Mahant Harigiri Maharaj of the Shambhu Panch Darshan Juna Akhada and nine other Akhadas belonging to the Shaivite sect took part.
However, the Shahi Snan at Trimbakeshwar witnessed some chaotic scenes after regular pilgrims were allowed to join the sadhus during the holy dip leading to some pandits expressing their displeasure. But, police officials sorted out the situation quickly.
Normally, the saints and sadhus are given the right to begin the royal bath proceedings and regular pilgrims are allowed to take their Shahi Snan once the Akhadas complete their rituals.
Nearly 20,000 police personnel were deployed at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar and about 600 CCTVs installed at both the venues. The police adopted a ‘hold and release’ strategy to ensure that the ghats were not overcrowded at any point. The administration also deployed expert swimmers as life guards at all the ghats.
The next two Shahi Snans will be held on September 13 and 18.
