Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Trimbakeshwar on Sunday (23rd) to inspect preparations for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027. During his visit to Kushavarta, a sacred bathing site, he expressed strong displeasure over the poor water quality and directed officials to take immediate action to ensure clean water.
Fadnavis performed puja and abhishekam at the Trimbakeshwar temple before meeting sadhus and mahants to discuss their concerns about the Kumbh Mela arrangements. He assured them that the government would address their demands and improve facilities.
Special Water Purification System for Kumbh
The Kushavarta shrine is an important site for the Amrit Snan (holy bath) during the Kumbh Mela. To maintain water purity, the municipal council will install a special filtration system using funds from the Simhastha budget, as confirmed by Chief Officer Dr. Shreya Devachke.
Fadnavis was accompanied by Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. The puja at the temple was performed under the guidance of Purohit Sangh President Manoj Bate, Shripad Akolkar, and Dhananjay Akolkar.
Meeting with Sadhus and Mahants
Following the temple visit, CM Fadnavis held discussions with sadhus and mahants of various akhadas.
The Purohit Sangh demanded that the Kumbh Mela guesthouse, built under the Kumbhdan scheme, be allocated for use by priests.
Shri Mahant Shankaranand Saraswati, treasurer of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, urged the Chief Minister to personally oversee the Simhastha Kumbh Mela’s management.
Fadnavis listened to their concerns for about 15 minutes and assured them that their requests would be considered.
₹1,100 Crore Development Plan for Trimbakeshwar
CM Fadnavis also reviewed the Trimbakeshwar development plan, stating that a ₹1,100 crore project has been finalized in two phases:
First phase: Development of pilgrim corridors, parking, toilets, and Kushavarta improvements.
Second phase: Reconstruction of kunds and temples, along with the creation of natural paths on Brahmagiri hills for devotees.
Demand to Rename Kumbh Mela
Sadhus and mahants have urged that the Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela be officially named the Trimbak-Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela, emphasizing Trimbakeshwar’s religious significance. CM Fadnavis supported this demand, acknowledging the site's importance.
The visit highlights the government's commitment to improving Trimbakeshwar’s infrastructure ahead of Kumbh Mela 2027 and ensuring better facilities for pilgrims.