A Akhter /
The religious city of Nashik in maharashtra is all set to welcome more than one crore pilgrims on the three auspicious days of the Kumbh Mela when the ‘shahi snaan’ takes place. All preparations are now at a finale stage as official Flag hoisting of the Kumbhamela is scheduled for Tuesday. Nashik is a smallest of all Kumbh centers. Here Holy dip is taken at two places on the Godavari.
There is a History of bloody battle behind this. A battle between two sects of sadhus 225 years ago. at which 12,000 are said to have been killed.After this clash an order was issued by the Peshwa marking out separate ghats at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar. Between 80 lakh to 1 crore devoties are expected in Nashik, and 25 to 30 lakhs at Trimbakeshwar, on three days of Shahi Snan in kumbhamela this year. Nearly double the numbers seen the last time. First Shahi Snan is on 29th August.
An additional railway platform has come up in Nashik. Trains will leave every 20 minutes. Buses will be stopped well outside the town, space to park 1 lakh vehicles has been created. 20,000 police personnel will be helped by 20,000 volunteers, including 40 NGOs in crowd control. Budget of 2,378 crore rupees was marked for development works for Nashik Kumbhamela. 7 new ghats in Nashik and 4 in Trimbakeshwar are coming up. Substantial provision was made for roads and to build Sadhugram on 338 acres for 3 lakh sadhus.
22 departments are working to provide water, power, lodging, security,and transport. Maharashtra government has turned Kumbh into an initiative to showcase Prime Minister Narendra Modis Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. 10 to 15,000 volunteers have been working with Nashik administration to clean the Godavari’s banks. Bill Gates Foundation is providing disposable bins and other logistics to tackle disposal of an estimated 4 crore paper plates and tea cups every day. This will be a no-plastic Kumbh – cloth bags to be distributed free.