States » WestPosted at: Oct 31 2026 10:15PM


President Murmu calls for national unity and environmental protection at Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027

Bharat Ghandat
Nashik, Oct 31 (UNI) The sacred banks of the Godavari witnessed a grand confluence of faith, culture and social harmony as President Droupadi Murmu delivered a message of national unity, environmental conservation and collective responsibility during the Maha Goda Aarti ceremony held in Nashik on Saturday.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the sacred flag-hoisting ceremony marking the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027, the President expressed confidence that the upcoming Kumbh would set a new benchmark by combining India's ancient spiritual traditions with modern infrastructure, environmental protection, cleanliness and effective waste management.
Describing the Kumbh as much more than a religious gathering, President Murmu said it represents the enduring values of Indian civilisation and serves as a powerful platform for social unity and positive transformation.
Beginning her address with the Marathi greeting, "My salutations to the sacred city of Nashik," the President won the hearts of the gathering. She also paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary and expressed her happiness at visiting Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.
Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan, several state ministers, spiritual leaders, saints and mahants representing various akhadas, public representatives and senior administrative officials were present.
President Murmu described Maharashtra as a sacred land and said she was deeply honoured to visit Trimbakeshwar, blessed by the presence of Lord Shiva, and Nashik, which preserves the memories of Lord Rama's exile. She also highlighted the spiritual significance of the Godavari, revered by millions of devotees.
Expressing her special happiness at participating in the Maha Aarti of the Godavari, she said India's religious and spiritual traditions have a history spanning centuries. Historical records indicate that large numbers of people participated in such religious gatherings even around 1,400 years ago.
Although generations and times have changed, the stream of faith among Indians has remained uninterrupted. She said the Simhastha Kumbh is a symbol of collective faith that transcends social divisions and promotes harmony, unity and positive change.
Highlighting Maharashtra's historical and social contributions, the President recalled the importance of Salher Fort, the birthplace of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the revolutionary legacy of Abhinav Bharat, the origin of the Godavari and the contributions of the Chapekar brothers and Dadasaheb Potnis to India's freedom struggle.
She also acknowledged the contributions of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, saying their thoughts and movements helped provide the country with a direction towards social equality, education and transformation.
The President particularly appreciated the participation of approximately 6,500 members of tribal communities from 650 villages across tribal-dominated talukas of Nashik district in the Maha Goda Aarti.
She said their participation reflected India's unity in diversity. Emphasising Maharashtra's contribution to India's development, President Murmu appreciated the work being undertaken by the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Referring to the prevailing drought situation, she assured that the Central and state governments would extend necessary assistance to affected farmers while safeguarding their dignity and self-respect. She stressed that farmers, who are the backbone of the country and its food providers, must receive support during difficult times.
Calling for environmental responsibility, the President urged citizens to protect rivers, water bodies and natural resources. She emphasised the importance of cleanliness and effective waste management, stating that environmental conservation must go hand in hand with religious faith.
Expressing confidence that the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh would establish a unique combination of spirituality, social harmony, modern development and environmental protection, she extended her best wishes to the people for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027.
Governor Jishnu Dev Varma thanked President Droupadi Murmu for attending the sacred flag-hoisting ceremony of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Describing the Kumbh as one of India's largest religious gatherings, he said it brings people together through spirituality, rising above caste, religion and social differences.
Highlighting the spiritual significance of Nashik, blessed by the footsteps of Lord Rama, and the Godavari River, the Governor expressed confidence that the Maharashtra government would organise the upcoming Kumbh on a historic and grand scale.
He stressed that special attention must be given to keeping the Godavari clean and making the Kumbh safe, clean and environmentally friendly.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the Kumbh as a grand confluence of the diverse expressions and traditions of India's eternal Sanatan culture. He said the Kumbh, which preserves the sacred tradition of bathing in the Ganga and Godavari, is not merely an Indian religious festival but an occasion that attracts devotees from across the world.
Expressing happiness over the participation of 6,500 tribal community members in the Maha Goda Aarti, he acknowledged the significant contribution of tribal communities towards preserving India's ancient cultural traditions.
The Chief Minister said the government was committed to making the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh grand, divine and beautiful while transforming the overall appearance of Nashik and Trimbakeshwar through development projects.
He stated that development works in both cities were already progressing on the ground. The government's responsibility was to create the necessary infrastructure and facilities, while the saints and mahants were the true custodians of the Kumbh.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh is expected to attract approximately 12 crore devotees from across the world and that the Maharashtra government is fully prepared to welcome them.
He said development projects worth approximately ₹35,000 crore were underway in the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar region. These projects, he added, would not remain limited to the Kumbh preparations but would provide a new direction to the region's future.
Shinde said the Kumbh should also emerge as an economic festival by generating employment for local workers, creating opportunities for ordinary people and strengthening the regional economy, alongside welcoming saints, mahants and devotees.
Describing the Simhastha as a global expression of Maharashtra's rich cultural heritage, respect for women and social harmony, he said the flag-hoisting ceremonies at Ramteerth in Nashik and Kushavarta Tirtha in Trimbakeshwar, performed by President Murmu, would remain historic moments.
He said the ceremony represented the honour of women and the strength of Nari Shakti. Shinde expressed confidence that the Kumbh would present the world with a practical example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Great India).
During the programme, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the official Kumbh song and website developed by the Simhastha Kumbh Mela Authority. She also released special postage stamps featuring Ramteerth in Nashik and the sacred Kushavarta Tirtha in Trimbakeshwar, highlighting the religious, cultural and historical significance of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
The special postage stamps were presented to the President by Ramchandra Jaybhave. The ceremony was attended by several legislators, including Suhas Kande, Gokul Gite, Rahul Dhikle, Devyani Pharande, Seema Hiray, Saroj Ahire, Dilip Bankar and Manikrao Kokate. Senior officials present included Guardian Secretary Eknath Dawale, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Praveen Gedam, Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, Simhastha Kumbh Mela Authority Commissioner Shekhar Singh, Municipal Commissioner Manisha Khatri, Nashik Metropolitan Region Development Authority Commissioner Jalaj Sharma and District Collector Ayush Prasad, among others.
The grand ceremony marked an important milestone in the preparations for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027, with a collective message of faith, development, social harmony and environmental responsibility.
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