The Nashik Kumbh Mela flag hoisting 2026 will take place on Saturday, 31 October 2026, at 12:02 PM. The ceremony (Dhwajarohan) happens at the same time at Ramkund in Panchavati, Nashik, and at Kushavarta Tirtha in Trimbakeshwar.
It marks the start of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, which runs until 24 July 2028. The main Amrit Snan bathing days fall in August and September 2027, not on 31 October. President Droupadi Murmu is expected to attend, according to Maharashtra’s Kumbh Mela minister.
The key details at a glance
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, 31 October 2026 |
| Time | 12:02 PM, the muhurta announced by the Maharashtra government |
| Main venue | Ramkund, Panchavati, Nashik |
| Second venue | Kushavarta Tirtha, Trimbakeshwar (same time) |
| Kumbh runs | 31 October 2026 to 24 July 2028, about 22 months |
| First Amrit Snan | 2 August 2027 |
| President Murmu | Expected, according to state ministers; venue not announced |
| Evening programme | A Godavari aarti in Nashik, reported by Prahaar |
One thing worth getting straight early: 31 October is not a bathing day. Nobody is taking a royal dip that morning, so don’t plan your trip as if the snan is happening.
What actually happens on 31 October
Dhwajarohan simply means raising a flag. It’s how a Simhastha formally begins, and it comes with prayers and rituals rather than a mass bath. At 12:02 PM a religious flag goes up at Ramkund in Nashik and at Kushavarta in Trimbakeshwar, with seers and other dignitaries present. Prahaar reports that the Shankaracharya will be among them.
There’s more in the evening. Reports say a large Godavari aarti is planned that day in Nashik, performed by around 6,000 tribal participants. The state is also said to be planning for roughly one lakh devotees at the Nashik ceremony.
The flag-raising season has already started in a smaller way. On 6 May 2026, a Dharmadhwaj was hoisted at the Kalaram Temple in Panchavati, in the presence of former President Ram Nath Kovind and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. That marked the start of the religious preparations. The 31 October ceremony is the main one.
Will President Murmu be there?
Probably, but it isn’t settled. Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan has said the President will attend, and Marathi outlets Sarkarnama and Prahaar both carried that. The Free Press Journal, in a report dated 20 September, said her participation had not yet been officially confirmed. We haven’t found a statement from the President’s Secretariat either way.
There’s a second wrinkle. The flags go up at both places at the same minute, so dignitaries will be split between Nashik and Trimbakeshwar. Which one she’ll be at hasn’t been announced.
If you’re going mainly to see her, don’t build your trip around it. If she does come, expect tighter security, road closures and restricted viewing near that venue.
Can ordinary devotees attend?
Almost certainly, though no final public-entry plan has been published yet. What’s been reported is that the administration is working with the police, the municipal corporation and the Trimbakeshwar authorities on traffic control, parking near the venues, and walking routes from parking areas to the ceremony sites. In Trimbakeshwar, about 20 acres across 25 locations were identified for parking back in March, with heavy traffic expected from Mumbai, Gujarat and Palghar.
Here’s what I’d do if I were going:
- Pick one venue. Both ceremonies happen at 12:02 PM, so you can’t do both.
- Arrive the evening before. Hotels in Panchavati and Trimbakeshwar will fill up, and morning roads may be shut.
- Expect to walk the last stretch. Park-and-walk is the likely pattern, so wear proper footwear.
- Travel light. Carry a phone charger, water and a photo ID, and leave bulky bags behind.
- Ignore anyone selling “VIP darshan” or reserved spots at the ceremony. Nothing like that has been announced.
Keep an eye on police and Kumbh Authority notices in the last week before the date, because road and entry rules usually get finalised late.
How to reach Nashik and Trimbakeshwar
Nashik is easy to reach by road and rail. The catch is the last few kilometres on the day itself. Distances below are approximate, from general knowledge rather than an official source, so check a maps app for your own route.
| Route | Approx. distance | Normal travel time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai to Nashik | about 165 km | 3.5 to 4.5 hours | Road or train |
| Pune to Nashik | about 210 km | 4 to 5 hours | Mostly by road |
| Nashik Road station to Ramkund | about 9 to 10 km | 25 to 40 minutes | Nashik Road is the main railway station |
| Nashik to Trimbakeshwar | about 28 to 30 km | 45 to 60 minutes | Expect far longer on 31 October |
| Nashik (Ozar) airport to the city | about 20 to 25 km | 40 to 60 minutes | Check which airlines currently fly there |
| Mumbai airport to Nashik | about 180 km | 4 to 5 hours | The bigger airport, but a long drive |
If you’re coming by train, book as early as the window allows, because Kumbh dates always push demand up. If you’re driving, plan to park outside the centre and use whatever shuttle or walking routes the administration announces. And if you’re doing Nashik and Trimbakeshwar in one trip, treat them as two separate days.
Kumbh Mela 2027: the main bathing dates
If the holy dip is what you’re after, these are the dates announced by the Maharashtra government.
| Event | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nagar Pradakshina | 29 July 2027 | Nashik |
| First Amrit Snan | 2 August 2027 (Monday), Ashadh Somvati Amavasya | Nashik and Trimbakeshwar |
| Second Amrit Snan (Mahakumbh snan) | 31 August 2027 (Tuesday), Shravan Amavasya | Nashik and Trimbakeshwar |
| Third Amrit Snan | 11 September 2027 | Nashik |
| Third Amrit Snan | 12 September 2027 | Trimbakeshwar |
| Flags lowered, Kumbh ends | 24 July 2028 | Nashik and Trimbakeshwar |
Three smaller points. Vaishnav and Shaiva akhadas bathe separately at Nashik, which is unusual among the four Kumbh sites. The “Shahi Snan” name has officially become “Amrut Snan”, as at the Prayagraj Kumbh. And there are many more auspicious bathing days than these three: PTI reports 44 in Nashik and 53 in Trimbakeshwar. The Chief Minister has asked devotees to spread their visits out rather than rush to the headline dates, and that’s good advice if you don’t enjoy crowds.
Planning your trip
Decide first what you’re actually going for. The opening ceremony on 31 October 2026, the bathing days in 2027 and a quiet temple visit are three very different trips, with different crowds and different costs.
If you’d rather hand the logistics to someone else, TripTo Yatra lists a Nashik Kumbh Mela Package 2027 covering Nashik, Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund. Before you book, ask three things. Do the dates cover 31 October 2026, or is it a 2027 itinerary? What exactly is included in stay, transport and meals? And does anyone promise ceremony access? Nobody can guarantee entry to a restricted area, so get every inclusion in writing.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Nashik Kumbh Mela flag hoisting in 2026?
Saturday, 31 October 2026, at 12:02 PM.
Where will it take place?
At Ramkund in Panchavati, Nashik, and at Kushavarta Tirtha in Trimbakeshwar, both at the same time.
Will President Droupadi Murmu attend?
State ministers say she will, but no official confirmation has been published and her venue is unannounced.
Is the flag hoisting the same as Shahi Snan?
No. It’s the opening ceremony. The Amrit Snan, earlier called Shahi Snan, happens on separate dates in 2027.
What does Dhwajarohan mean?
Raising a flag. At the Simhastha it marks the formal start of the Mela.
Can I visit both Nashik and Trimbakeshwar on 31 October?
Not for the ceremony itself, since both happen at 12:02 PM. You could visit one for the ceremony and the other the next day.
When are the main bathing days?
2 August, 31 August and 11 or 12 September 2027.
When does the Kumbh end?
On 24 July 2028, when the flags are lowered.
