Fadnavis invites President Murmu to Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela flag hoisting on October 31

President Droupadi Murmu has been invited to the flag hoisting ceremony of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met her at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi and handed over the formal invitation to the ceremony, to be held in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar on October 31. The ceremony is considered the start of the grand Kumbh Mela festival.

Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar were present at the meeting. A delegation of some other state Cabinet ministers, officials and office-bearers also accompanied them.

Fadnavis also presented the President with a special gift set. It reflects many of Maharashtra's heritages, from its spiritual tradition to tribal entrepreneurship, textile art, agricultural prosperity and food culture. The President has also been invited to other events on the day of the flag hoisting. These include the Goda Aarti, the inauguration of the website of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, the release of the Kumbh Mela song, and the unveiling of a coffee table book on the Kumbh Mela and a Kumbh Mela postage stamp.

Fadnavis wrote about the meeting that he respectfully invited the President to hoist the Dharmadhwaj (religious flag) of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027. According to him, this is an important milestone in the preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Girish Mahajan, Dadaji Bhuse and Narhari Zirwal were also at the meeting. Mahajan is the Minister for Water Resources, Disaster Management and Kumbh Mela, and is also the guardian minister of Nashik district. Bhujbal holds the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection portfolio, Bhuse is the School Education Minister, and Zirwal is the Minister for Food and Drug Administration and Special Assistance. Nashik Mayor Himgauri Adke-Aher and Trimbak Municipal Council president Triveni Tungar were also present.

Justice Vivek Sonawane, chairman of the Trimbakeshwar Devasthan and Joint Charity Commissioner, Chandrashekhar Panchakshari, president of the Nashik Purohit Sangh, and Manoj Thete, president of the Trimbakeshwar Purohit Sangh, were also there. Narsimhakrupa Das of the Ramtirth Godavari Seva Samiti, Dr Praveen Gedam, chairman of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela Authority and Divisional Commissioner, and Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh were also present.

The invitation itself is distinctive. On opening the invitation box, a three-dimensional pop-up artwork shows the mythological background, spiritual significance and grandeur of the Kumbh Mela. It carries experiences linked to all five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. The concept highlights Nashik's cultural heritage, the glory of the holy Godavari and the special significance of the Kumbh Mela in Indian tradition.

The gift set contains Shabari Naturals products under the Tribal Development Department. These include incense sticks, food items made from millets, products made from mahua flowers, bamboo items and wild honey. They showcase the traditional knowledge of tribal communities, the proper use of natural resources and the strength of local entrepreneurship. They also convey a message about the skill of tribal artisans, efforts to find markets for local products and the economic strengthening of communities.

The set also includes a Paithani from Yeola, regarded as a hallmark of Maharashtra's textile tradition. Nashik's agricultural prosperity is represented by black raisins and cashew nuts. Chivda has been included as a symbol of Nashik's food tradition. The gift set also holds select sweets and dry fruits.