Brass Fitting Stolen From Ramkund Flag Mast Ten Days Before the Flag Hoisting; Kushavarta Works Told to Speed Up
One of four decorative brass knobs at the base of the Purohit Sangh's 31-ft flag mast at Ramkund has been stolen, Lokmat reported on 20 October. PWD will make a replacement within three days and a railing will be put up around the mast; police have been posted at Ramkund. At Trimbakeshwar, Kumbh Commissioner Shekhar Singh has ordered extra manpower to finish the Kushavarta works in time for 31 October.
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First announced on
Update to our 19 October story: Flag masts up at Ramkund. Days after the two Dharmadhwaja masts went up, part of one has been stolen.
Brass knob stolen from the 31-ft mast
Lokmat reported on 20 October 2026 that a decorative brass knob has been stolen from the base of the Purohit Sangh's 31-ft flag mast, on the east side of Ramkund near the Ganga-Godavari temple. This is reported. We have not seen a police complaint or an official statement.
- Four ornate brass knobs were fitted at the base of the mast. One was taken. The lower part of the mast had been wrapped in red cloth after installation.
- The main 51-ft mast stands on the north side. Lokmat does not report any damage to it.
- Iron bars used in construction around Ramkund have been stolen before too, Lokmat says. Police have now been posted at Ramkund.
- The Purohit Sangh says it will meet the Police Commissioner and submit a memorandum asking for action against thefts in the area.
- The fix: the PWD, through the Kumbh Mela Authority, will make a new knob within three days, and a railing will be built around the mast, Chandrashekhar Panchakshari told Lokmat.
Kushavarta: extra hands to finish on time
UNI reported on 20 October that Kumbh Mela Authority Commissioner Shekhar Singh inspected Kushavarta Tirtha and its surroundings at Trimbakeshwar. He directed that additional manpower be put on the pending works so they finish in time for the 31 October ceremony, and that beautification, mandaps, seating and other arrangements be done without fault. Apla Nashik 24 adds that Collector Ayush Prasad has asked for a day-by-day plan for pending works and a daily progress report. Both are reported, not from an official release.
Reports that don't match
- When the masts were finished: Lokmat says work on both masts was completed on Saturday (17 October) using a crane of about 60 ft, with a seven-member team from Coimbatore. The Free Press Journal (18 October) said installation went on through Friday (16 October) with a 50-ft crane.
If you are visiting
- Ramkund stays closed to devotees until 31 October. See Ramkund and ghats closed before the flag hoisting.
- Water at Ramkund for the ceremony is still undecided: No dam water for the flag hoisting, says Collector.
- Full programme for 31 October: Dhwajarohan programme and our Dhwajarohan 2026 page.
Related: Kumbh status board, Ghats guide.
