Not yet. The Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha formally opens with the flag hoisting on Saturday 31 October 2026, reported for 12:02 PM, but the main bathing days are not until August and September 2027.
From 31 October the Simhastha period has begun, but only as a ceremony. For most pilgrims, nothing practical changes until the summer of 2027.
What 31 October is, and what it is not
The Kumbh Mela Authority’s plan says the Kumbh period commences on 31 October 2026 with the ceremonial flag hoisting and concludes with a closing ceremony in July 2028. The day is Ashwin Krishna Shashthi in the Tirth panchang. The flags are raised at Ramkund in Nashik and Kushavarta in Trimbakeshwar.
It is not a bathing day, and it is not the start of the main mela. The plan describes an extended event of about 20 months, with a core mela period of about 107 days between June and September 2027. The heaviest crowds are expected on the Amrit Snan days, when the plan estimates about 1.5 crore people in Nashik and 0.75 crore in Trimbakeshwar. Read what dhwajarohan means for the background to the ceremony.
Should you travel for the opening?
Most people do not need to. Reports in early October said an evening Maha Aarti would have room for about 5,000 devotees, with large screens for others, and that parking near the venues, walking routes and traffic controls were being planned for the day. Reports in September said the President of India might attend; we have not found an official confirmation. Either way, expect security checks and limited access.
If you live nearby and want to go, arrive early, carry photo ID and follow police directions. Our flag hoisting brief has the details we have been able to confirm.
The dates that matter for a bath
| Date | Event | Where | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 2 Aug 2027 | First Amrit Snan | Nashik and Trimbakeshwar | Ashadha Amavasya |
| Tue 31 Aug 2027 | Second Amrit Snan | Nashik and Trimbakeshwar | Shravana Amavasya |
| Sat 11 Sep 2027 | Third Amrit Snan | Ramkund, Nashik | Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi |
| Sun 12 Sep 2027 | Third Amrit Snan | Kushavarta, Trimbakeshwar | Bhadrapada Shukla Dwadashi |
These dates are in the authority’s plan, which is marked interim, so check again before you book. The tithis are from the Tirth panchang. When the dates were announced in 2025, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister asked devotees not to rush on particular days and to space out their visits.
What you can do now
- Decide which centre matters to you, Ramkund in Nashik or Kushavarta in Trimbakeshwar, before you look at stays. The two are about 30 km apart by road.
- Book only what you can cancel or change, and be wary of anyone selling an “official” Kumbh package. Our booking check lists the warning signs.
- For questions, the Kumbh Mela Authority’s general contact is on its official page with the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Nashik. It is an enquiry point, not an emergency line.
- Keep our Nashik Kumbh guide and dates page handy. We update them when a notice changes anything.
Sources
- Kumbh Mela Plan (First Edition): Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 · Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Nashik, Government of Maharashtra ·
- Nashik: 6000 tribal people to perform Godavari aarti alongside President Murmu · Free Press Journal ·
- Nashik: Maha Aarti, Traffic, Parking And Security Arrangements Prioritised For Simhastha Flag-Hoisting · Free Press Journal (Milind Sajgure) ·
- Nashik: President Likely To Attend Simhastha Kumbh Flag-Hoisting Ceremony On October 31 · Free Press Journal (Milind Sajgure) ·
- Simhastha Kumbh Mela to begin in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar on Oct 31 next year · Press Trust of India (via The Week) ·
- Contact Details: Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority · Divisional Commissioner Office, Nashik, Government of Maharashtra ·
- Panchang: tithi, sunrise and lunar month · TravNext Tech Private Limited (Tirth.com) ·
Photo: Vanshiikaa, CC0
