30 October Gram Pradakshina: Route From Tapovan to Ramkund, NMC Clears Encroachments 24–29 October, Police Rehearse at the Ghats

The day before the flag hoisting now has a route. The Gram Pradakshina (also called the Dharma Dhwaj Gram Parikrama, and "Nagar Pradakshina" in the Times of India) on Friday 30 October 2026 will start from Modi Maidan in Tapovan and end at Ramkund (Ramtirth). To keep the route clear, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) will run anti-encroachment squads from 24 to 29 October. All of this is reported. No official route map or traffic notice has been published yet.

This updates our Dhwajarohan 2026 programme post (6 October), which said the route was still being finalised. This is not the Nagar Pradakshina of 29 July 2027, which is part of the main Kumbh calendar.

The route, as reported

A senior NMC official told the Times of India (22 October) that the procession will pass:

• Tapovan
• Panchavati
• the flower market
• Delhi Darwaza
• Nehru Chowk
• Main Road
• Ravivar Karanja
• Ahilyabai Holkar Bridge, before reaching Ramkund

The programme, as reported

Sakal reported on a planning meeting chaired by Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik on Wednesday 21 October. The procession is organised by the Simhastha committee of the Shri Ganga Godavari Panchkoti Purohit Sangh, as part of a three-day religious programme at Ramtirth, Panchavati from 30 October to 1 November. Satish Shukla of the committee gave these details:

• 1 PM: welcome at Modi Maidan for the heads of the three akharas, saints and mahants, the Guardian Minister, the Police Commissioner, the Municipal Commissioner and the Kumbh Mela Authority Commissioner.
• 2 PM: the procession sets off, with ten chitraraths (tableaux), dhol-tasha troupes, conch blowing and groups from the city's religious institutions.
• About 6:30 PM: it reaches Ramtirth. A sandhya aarti is held ahead of the flag hoisting, and the procession ends there.
• A Google Form for people who want to take part is to be shared. The link has not been published yet.

Karnik said there will be tight security around all ten tableaux. He also said detailed planning would follow once there are accurate numbers for visitors and participants, so that a stampede-like situation can be avoided, Sakal reports.

Navbharat (21 October) adds that Jagadguru Ramanujacharya Narendracharya Maharaj will be present. It also reports a plan to light one lakh diyas on both banks of the Godavari, from Ramkund to Talkuteshwar bridge, for a Goda Puja, with a world record in view.

Sources differ

• Start time: Sakal gives 2 PM. Navbharat gives 3 PM. Check again before you go.
• Crowd: Lokmat Times wrote in September that about one lakh devotees are expected. Navbharat talks of one lakh sevaks lighting one lakh lamps. Neither figure is official.

NMC anti-encroachment drive, 24–29 October

According to the Times of India:

• Suvarna Dakhne, NMC deputy commissioner (encroachment), has told the Panchavati and Nashik West divisional officers to clear handcarts, roadside stalls, hawkers, food vendors and other obstructions on the main routes.
• The squads will work from 24 to 29 October and will be posted at key spots during the two days of events (30–31 October).
• The focus is on Ramkund and the Godavari ghats, in the areas of the Panchavati, Sarkarwada and Bhadrakali police stations.
• The drive falls in the festive shopping season, when Main Road and nearby markets are already crowded.

Police rehearsal at Ramkund, 22 October

The Free Press Journal reports that on Thursday 22 October the Nashik Police held a full rehearsal along the Godavari, on Police Commissioner Karnik's orders:

• 4 DCPs, 7 ACPs, 14 senior inspectors and about 300–400 personnel took part, along with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad.
• They checked Ramkund, the vegetable market ground, the Goda Aarti site and the whole route of the Dharma Dhwaj procession.
• DCP Kirankumar Chavan called it a first assessment. More inspections will follow, and then the final security plan.

Also from 25 October: 'Har Ghar Bhagwa'

Sakal and Navbharat report a 'Har Ghar Bhagwa' drive to put up one lakh saffron flags on homes from Kojagiri Purnima, Sunday 25 October: 75,000 in Nashik and 25,000 in Trimbakeshwar. Reports say it is the idea of Guardian and Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan, and that more than 2,000 booth heads of the BJP (1,047) and Shiv Sena (about 1,000) will carry it out with the city's MLAs and corporators. Flags are being brought in from Indore, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahilyanagar. We have not seen a notice about it from the Kumbh Mela Authority or the NMC.

What this means for you

• On the afternoon and evening of 30 October, avoid driving on Main Road, Panchavati and the roads to Ramkund. Expect closures and diversions. They have not been announced yet.
• If you shop or sell on Main Road or near Ramkund, expect handcarts and stalls to be moved from 24 October.
• If you want to join the procession, watch for the Purohit Sangh's registration form.
• For the full 30–31 October programme and live updates, see our Dhwajarohan 2026 hub. For the 25 October conch event, see our Shankhnaad guide.