Dhwajarohan 2026: the flag hoisting that starts the Simhastha

Dhwajarohan means raising the flag. For the Simhastha, it marks the formal opening of the mela period, which runs into 2028.

The NTKMA Kumbh Mela Plan (June 2026) lists the date and the two venues. Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan confirmed the muhurat of 12:02 PM on record on 19 September 2026, eSakal reported. The same time was also in the original schedule announced on 1 June 2025.

The flag hoisting is not a bathing day. The first Amrit Snan is on Monday 2 August 2027. See every date on our Kumbh dates page.

According to the NTKMA plan, new flag poles (Dhwaja Stambhas) are being set up before 31 October at Ramkund, and in Trimbak at Sadhugram/Ghat and at Kushavarta.

The flags go up at 12:02 PM at both places at the same time:

• Ramkund (Ramtirth), Panchavati, Nashik. Ramkund is on the Godavari in Panchavati and is the main bathing spot in Nashik.
• Kushavarta, Trimbakeshwar. The sacred kund in Trimbak town, regarded as the symbolic origin of the Godavari.

Trimbak is a separate town from Nashik, so you can be at only one venue at 12:02 PM. Pick one in advance. Read about the bathing spots on our ghats page, and about the Trimbak side on our Trimbakeshwar Kumbh 2027 guide.

Only the flag hoisting itself is confirmed in an official document. The rest of this programme comes from media reports and may change.

• Friday 30 October: Gram Pradakshina in Nashik, before the flag hoisting. Lokmat Times reported (27 September 2026) that around one lakh devotees are expected. The route was still being finalised.
• 30 October to 1 November: rituals at Ramkund. Puja and havan over three days, according to the same report.
• Saturday 31 October, 12:02 PM: Dhwajarohan at Ramkund and Kushavarta. Confirmed.
• Saturday 31 October, 7 PM: Godavari Maha Aarti and "Divya Sandhya", a cultural programme at Ramkund. Lokmat Times reported that the President is "planned" to perform the aarti. Navbharat Live reported about 5,000 seats for the Maha Aarti.

Navarashtra has noted that the programme may change. We will update this page when an official programme is published.

Girish Mahajan announced on record (eSakal, 19 September 2026) that President Droupadi Murmu, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar will attend on 31 October.

Which venue the President will attend, Nashik or Trimbak, is not yet clear.

What this means for you: NTKMA Commissioner Shekhar Singh has asked the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for separate entry and exit routes for VIPs and for the public at Ramkund (Times of India, 5 October 2026). So expect separate lanes for VIPs and the public.

Ramkund can hold only about 15,000 people at once, so invitations for the programmes will be limited, Lokmat Times reported. The Maha Aarti is reported to have about 5,000 seats.

Plan with what is known today:

• Do not expect to reach the water's edge at 12:02 PM without an invitation. Space is small and invitations are limited.
• Expect big crowds on 30 October too. About one lakh devotees are reported to be expected for the Gram Pradakshina.
• Traffic and road-closure orders for these days have not been published yet. Check back here before you set out.
• Kushavarta in Trimbak is closed for renovation until about 31 October (see below). Do not plan a bath there before it reopens.
• Works at Ramkund were still unfinished on 5 October, so some areas may be screened off.
• No official pilgrim e-pass or registration has been announced. Treat any such claim as unverified.
• Save emergency numbers before you go: see our emergency page.

Ramkund works: status on 5 October

The Times of India reported on 5 October 2026 that Shekhar Singh wrote to NMC Commissioner Manisha Khatri after an inspection. Sewerage and storm-water works, stone steps, cabling and debris clearing were still unfinished. He asked for unfinished works to be "suitably screened".

On 2 September, Singh had said Ramkund would be finished by 15 October. That deadline now looks hard to meet. At a review on 19 September, Mahajan said on record that rain had delayed works, but that everything would be finished before the Amrit Snans.

Kushavarta Tirth has been closed to pilgrims since 30 September 2026 for renovation. The work covers draining the kund, conserving the steps, a filtration plant and heritage lighting, with the State Archaeology Department leading. The renovated kund is to be inaugurated on 31 October.

Sources differ on when it reopens:

• Collector Ayush Prasad said on record that the closure runs from 30 September to 30 October (Times of India, 29 September 2026).
• Lokmat Times (4 October 2026) reported that it "will reopen on October 31".

Lokmat Times also reported that devotees were unhappy about the closure during Pitru Paksha. If you plan a ritual bath at Kushavarta, wait until it has clearly reopened. More on Trimbak in our Trimbakeshwar Kumbh 2027 guide.

This page will carry live updates on 30 and 31 October as news comes in: the final programme, any traffic orders, and which venue the President attends. Each update will name its source, and we will say clearly what is official and what is only reported.

Until then, keep the Kumbh dates page handy for the full calendar of the Simhastha.