When writing the history of a tradition, three kinds of records have to be handled: Puranic stories, written documents and folk memory. In the case of the Nashik Kumbh, all three of these kinds appear mixed into one another. The Puranas contain the glorification of the Godavari, but there is no such term as "Nashik Kumbh" in them. Persian texts of the Mughal period mention the mela of Trimbak, but not as a "Kumbh". In the papers of the Peshwa era, decisions on the bathing order of the akhadas are found. The British Gazetteer has records of the arrangements for the yatra. And witnesses to the events of the last fifty years are still alive today.
A Useful Tool: How to Identify the Simhastha Years?
While setting out the chronology of the Kumbh, one question comes up first: in which year would the Simhastha have been held in Nashik? Historical records are not available for every year. But when Jupiter entered Leo can be worked out through astronomical calculation, even going back in time. When such a calculation is made, a list of the Simhastha years of the past two hundred and fifty years is obtained. If it is matched against the records, some interesting things come to light.
| Jupiter's entry into Leo (approximate) | Historical context |
|---|---|
| September 1789 | Shaiva-Vaishnava conflict at Trimbak, decision of the Peshwas |
| September 1801 | Later period of the Peshwa rule |
| 1813, 1825, 1837 | Early period of British rule |
| October 1860, June 1861 | Disputes over the procession of the Nirmal sadhus |
| September 1872, May 1873 | Disputes again over the ban on processions |
| 1884, 1896, 1908, 1920 | Regular Simhasthas of the British period |
| July 1932 | Tradition resumed, period of the freedom struggle |
| 1944, 1956 | Early post-independence melas |
| 1967-68, 1979-80 | Progress towards a modern organised system |
| August 1991 | The last mela of the twentieth century |
| July 2003 | |
| July 2015 | First major experiment with smart technology |
| October 2026 to July 2028 | Upcoming Simhastha |