81.106.113.64: /* Origins */

2021-04-23T16:36:11Z

Origins

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{{Infobox recurring event
| name = Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha
| native_name = नाशिक-त्र्यंबकेश्वर सिंहस्थ कुंभमेळा
| native_name_lang = mr
| image = Nashik during 1989 Kumbh Mela.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = 1989 Kumbh Mela at Nashik
| status = active
| genre = Fair
| frequency = Every 12 years
| prev = 2015
| next = 2027
| venue = Banks of [[Godavari]] river
| location = [[Trimbak]] and [[Nashik]]
| country = [[India]]
| participants = [[Akhara]]s, pilgrims
| website = {{URL|kumbhmela2015.maharashtra.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''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 Mela]]s, 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 confederacy|Maratha]] [[Peshwa]] segregated the Vaishnavites to the Nashik city.

== History ==

=== Origins ===

According to [[Hindu mythology]], [[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.{{sfn|Maclean|2008|p=89}} 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.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WT2odZ7_d7MC&pg=PA32 |title=South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora |editor=Knut A. Jacobsen |chapter=The Kumbh Mela Festival Processions |author=James G. Lochtefeld |publisher=Routledge |year=2008 |page=70 }}</ref> It appears that the Nashik Simhastha adapted the ''kumbh'' (and the name Kumbh Mela) from the Haridwar Kumbh Mela.<ref name="Kama_ET_2010">{{cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-02-10/news/37008284_1_kumbh-mela-prayag-haridwar |title=Kumbh mela dates back to mid-19th century, shows research |date=2013-02-10 |newspaper=Economic Times |author=Vikram Doctor }}</ref> The [[Ujjain Simhastha]], in turn, is an adaptation of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha: it began in the 18th century, when the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] ruler [[Ranoji Shinde]] invited ascetics from Nashik to [[Ujjain]] for a local festival.<ref name="KAJ_2008">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WT2odZ7_d7MC&pg=PA32 |title=South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora |author=Knut A. Jacobsen |publisher=Routledge |year=2008 |pages=32–34 }}</ref>

=== 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 (astrology)|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]].<ref name="JS_1901">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/indiaofaurangzib034937mbp|title=India of Aurangzib |author=Jadunath Sarkar |author-link=Jadunath Sarkar |publisher=Kinnera |date=1901 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/indiaofaurangzib034937mbp/page/n170 51] }}</ref>

=== 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 [[akhara]]s. A [[Indian copper plate inscriptions|copperplate inscription]] of the Maratha [[Peshwa]] claims that 12,000 ascetics died in this clash.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V1L99XsB1gkC&pg=PA252 |title=Gods Gateway: Identity and Meaning in a Hindu Pilgrimage Place |author=James Lochtefeld |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2009 |isbn=9780199741588 |pages=252–253 }}</ref> As a result, the Peshwa shifted the Vaishnavites' bathing place to Ramkund in the Nashik city.<ref name="KAJ_2008"/> The Shaivites continue to regard Trimbak as the proper location of the fair.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-project-trimbak-not-nashik-as-the-place-for-kumbh-shaiva-akhadas-2104044 |title=Project Trimbak, not Nashik, as the place for Kumbh: Shaiva akhadas |author=Vaishali Balajiwale |date=13 July 2015 |newspaper=DNA }}</ref>

=== British era ===

In 1861 and 1872, fights erupted at Trimbak, when some [[Nirmala (sect)|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 sadhu]]s and ultimately rejected by the British authorities.{{sfn|Maclean|2008|pp=128–129}}

=== 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|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 [[sadhu]]s could take the first ceremonial bath. Reportedly, a sadhu threw some silver coins into the crowd and the subsequent scramble led to the stampede.<ref>[http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/08/28/stories/2003082805310100.htm 39 killed in Kumbh Mela stampede] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104003210/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/08/28/stories/2003082805310100.htm |date=2008-11-04 }} ''[[The Hindu]]'', 28 August 2003</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/28/india.maseehrahman "Holy man's gift blamed for 39 dead in stampede"] ''[[The Guardian]]'', 28 August 2003.</ref>

In 2015, the Kumbha Mela was held at Nashik-Trimbak during July–September.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 million to gather for 2015 Nashik Kumbh Mela|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/maharashtra/10-million-to-gather-for-2015-nashik-kumbh-mela_884065.html|publisher=Zee News|access-date=14 June 2014}}</ref>

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 <ref>https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jul/01/waze-crowds-uber-street-food-mit-kumbh-mela</ref>

== Dates ==

The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha is held once in 12 years. The exact dates are determined according to a combination of [[Hindu astrology|zodiac]] positions: the mela ay be held when [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] is in [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]] (''Simha'' in [[Hindu astrology]]); or when Jupiter, [[Sun (astrology)|Sun]] and [[Moon (astrology)|Moon]] are in [[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]] on lunar conjunction ([[Amavasya]]).<ref name="al_gov_astro_aspect">{{cite web|url=http://kumbhmelaallahabad.gov.in/english/astrological_aspect.html|title=Official Website of Kumbh Mela 2013 Allahabad Uttar Pradesh India|author=Mela Adhikari Kumbh Mela 2013 |access-date=24 November 2015 }}</ref>

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

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book |first=Kama |last=Maclean |title=Pilgrimage and Power: The Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, 1765-1954 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MALacgnsroMC&pg=PA5 |year=2008 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-533894-2 }}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Kumbh Mela in Nashik}}
* [https://kumbhmela2015.maharashtra.gov.in/ Official website]

[[Category:Kumbh Mela]]
[[Category:Nashik district]]
[[Category:August observances]]
[[Category:September observances]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]

Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha - Revision history

81.106.113.64: /* Origins */