Safety Guidelines

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela is a major religious gathering that brings together millions of pilgrims, devotees and visitors. These guidelines provide practical advice to help pilgrims prepare for their visit, navigate crowded public spaces, protect their health, respond to emergencies and stay informed about official advisories. Pilgrims are encouraged to plan their visit in advance, follow instructions from the authorities and cooperate with emergency personnel to help ensure a safe, orderly and spiritually fulfilling experience for everyone.

Plan Your Visit

The Simhastha is a long festival with many auspicious days, not only the Amrit Snans. Choosing a less crowded day means a calmer darshan and a safer snan.

• The Simhastha runs from 31 October 2026 to 24 July 2028. The Amrit Snan days are 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027 in Nashik, and 12 September 2027 in Trimbakeshwar.
• Check bathing schedules, designated routes, entry points and transport facilities.
• Plan your accommodation, transport and return in advance.
• Amrit Snan days have the heaviest crowds and fall in the peak monsoon. Keep updating yourself from the official pages and news about the information of crowd and transport situation.
• If you are elderly, specially abled, unwell, pregnant or travelling with small children, avoid the Amrit Snan days.
• Stay only in registered accommodation and book only through official or trusted channels. Beware of fake booking websites and agents.
• Check weather alerts and official advisories before starting your journey.
• Use designated parking areas and official pick up and drop off points.
• Follow traffic diversions, pedestrian routes and instructions from traffic personnel.

Pack Light

In a dense crowd, heavy luggage slows you down and puts you and others at risk.

• Carry 1-2 bags only. Leave jewellery, valuables and heavy luggage at the identified accommodation.
• Essentials:
  • Original photo ID
  • Your regular medicines
  • Raincoat (better than an umbrella in crowds)
  • Small torch
  • Water bottle
  • A dry set of clothes
• Put a card with name, phone number and address (and health condition if needed) in the pocket of every child and elderly family member.

Travelling towards the ghat

• Pre-decide the ghat which you want to visit from the designated, officially listed ghats only.

In Crowds

Most crowd accidents happen when people rush, stop in narrow spaces or push against barricades. Patience is the best protection, for you and for everyone around you.

• While walking to the ghats follow the designated entry and exit routes, barricades, queue systems and instructions from the authorities only.
• If with family and friends, agree on a meeting point with your group in case you get separated.
• Identify and mark emergency exits and alternate routes when entering crowded routes.
• Do not sit, sleep or stop on paths, bridges, ghat steps or narrow lanes, or near barricades.
• Never climb or break barricades.
• If the crowd pushes, stay calm, keep your arms in front of your chest, and move sideways out of the pressure.
• Do not believe or spread rumours. Follow only official announcements.
• Give way to Akhada processions. Do not cross procession routes.

At the Ghats

• Bathe only during daylight hours.
• Do not enter deep or fast-flowing water.
• Take your dip quickly and move ahead.
• Hold children's hands at all times near water.
• Follow instructions from lifeguards, rescue teams and local authorities.
• The Godavari can rise within hours when heavy rain falls in the hills or water is released from dams upstream. Ghats may be closed at short notice for your safety.
• If a ghat is closed or the water level is high, do not enter the river, even on your planned snan day.

Children, Elderly and Persons with Disabilities

Children, older people and persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable in a crowd, and the easiest to lose.

• Ensure children know a trusted adult’s name and how to seek help from authorized personnel.
• Keep an identity information paper in the pockets of children and elderly persons.
• Keep them close to you, and away from the densest crowd.
• Teach children to stay where they are and approach a police officer if they get separated.
• If someone gets lost, go immediately to the nearest Lost and Found centre or police booth.

Monsoon, Floods and Landslides

Nashik district, especially Trimbakeshwar and the surrounding hills, receives very heavy rain during the monsoon. Slopes become slippery, landslides can block roads, and rivers and nalas can flood quickly.

• Heavy rain and dam releases can raise the Godavari quickly. Leave the riverbank when you hear a warning siren or announcement.
• Do not climb Brahmagiri, Anjaneri or other hills at night, during rain, or alone. Stay on marked paths.
• Avoid ghat roads, steep slopes, retaining walls, nalas and waterfalls during heavy rain.
• Move to designated safe shelter when instructed during heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning or strong winds.
• Follow warnings about waterlogging, landslide and do not walk or drive through flooded roads.
• During thunder and lightning, move into a building or vehicle. Stay away from trees, poles and open water.

Heat and Humidity

Even on cloudy monsoon days, the heat and humidity of a packed crowd can exhaust the body quickly.

• Drink water regularly, and drink ORS if you sweat a lot.
• Wear light, loose cotton clothes, and avoid long waits in direct sun.
• Dizziness, headache, vomiting or confusion can mean heat illness. Move to shade and seek help immediately.

Fire and Electrical Safety

Wet conditions increase the risk of electric shock.

• Do not cook or light candles, diyas or incense inside tents.
• Do not touch electric poles, wires, lights or panels, especially when they are wet.
• Report sparking wires or smoke to the nearest police or fire post immediately.
• Know the exits of your camp or accommodation.

Personal Security and Fraud Prevention

Large crowds attract pickpockets and fraudsters. Stay alert and take help only from authorized people.

• Keep your phone and money in an inner pocket, or in a small bag held in front of you.
• Take help only from uniformed police, officials and volunteers with ID cards.
• Do not hand over children or belongings to strangers.
• Beware of calls or messages asking for money for darshan, passes or accommodation.
• Women and children in difficulty can approach any police booth or call 181 or 1098.

Respect and Cleanliness

The Godavari is sacred to millions. Keeping the river and the Mela area clean is everyone’s responsibility.

• Use designated toilets, handwashing facilities and waste disposal points.
• Dispose of plastics, food waste and other rubbish in designated bins.
• Do not use soap, shampoo or detergent in the Godavari.
• Place flowers and offerings only at the designated locations.
• Do not enter Akhada camps without permission. Respect the sadhus and their customs.

Stay Informed

• Follow updates only on official NTKMA, Police and District Administration channels.

Emergency Numbers