NASHIK

Nashik reflects Maharashtra’s vibrant cultural spirit through a range of fairs and festivals celebrated across the district. These occasions often bring together religious devotion, seasonal cycles, and community participation, shaping the district’s cultural identity. Prominent festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Holi, Gudi Padwa, Ashadi Ekadashi, Akshay Tritiya, Navratri, Dussehra, Mahashivratri, Shivaji Jayanti, Makar Sankranti, Nag Panchami, and Vat Purnima are widely observed. However, the district is especially known for the Khandoba Jatra, Rath Yatra, Shri Bhairavnath Jatra, and Simhastha Kumbh Mela, among others, which highlight its local traditions and historical connections. Together, these celebrations offer insight into the district’s social fabric and collective rhythms of life.

Gudi Padwa, marking the Marathi New Year, is traditionally celebrated across Maharashtra with vibrant gudis, festive meals, and rituals to welcome prosperity. In most regions, households hoist a gudi, a decorated pole with a bright cloth, neem leaves, and an inverted copper pot, outside their homes. However, parts of the Nashik district observe the festival with a distinct and somber twist. Influenced by local oral traditions and historical memory, some families replace the traditional gudi with saffron flags. This practice is rooted in the belief that after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was executed by Aurangzeb, his severed head was mockingly displayed like a gudi. As a mark of resistance and remembrance, these households honor the day not just as a new beginning but also as perhaps an act of sacrifice and Maratha pride.

The Khandoba Jatra at Peint in Nashik, held annually from Phalguna Sud. 11 to Phalguna Sud. 15 (February-March), serves as both a religious and commercial event. While its name suggests a primarily religious gathering, the jatra functions more as a significant trade center where villagers from the surrounding regions purchase essential supplies for the year and sell surplus produce. Historically, the jatra lasted for 15 days until 1947, spanning from Phalguna Sud. 1 to Phalguna Sud. 15. However, the most important days of the fair are Phalguna Sud. 13 to Phalguna Sud. 15, which witness the highest footfall.

The Nashik Grape Harvest Festival is a two-day annual event held in March to celebrate the grape harvesting and crushing season. Hosted in the Nashik Valley, a key region in India’s wine production, the festival features participation from over 50 grape farmers and around 12 wineries on average annually. It marks the peak of the grape harvest, which typically starts in January and continues until mid-April. The festival has become a unique blend of agriculture, viticulture, and tourism. As part of the larger India Grape Harvest initiative, it positions Nashik not just as a wine production hub but also as a vibrant tourist destination.

Festival activities include grape stalls, farmers’ grape markets, wine tasting and sales, vineyard and winery tours, grape-based cooking competitions, and cultural programs such as folk dances, music performances, Warli art workshops, and fashion shows. Visitors also enjoy live drumming, calligraphy, and mehndi art, and a car treasure hunt, creating a festive atmosphere that celebrates both rural produce and urban experiences.

Ramnavami, which marks the birth of Bhagwaan Ram, is celebrated with great ceremony in Nashik, especially through the Ram Rath Yatra: an integral part of the region's long-standing 'Rathotsav' tradition. The celebrations are held annually from Chaitra Sud. 1 to Chaitra Sud. 12 (March–April) at the Shri Kalaram Mandir in Panchavati, located on the eastern bank of the Godavari River where the river bends southward. The site is believed to be where Bhagwaan Ram, Sita, and Lakshman stayed during their exile. (Refer to cultural sites for more information about the Kalaram Mandir)

The Ram Rath Yatra begins at the Kalaram Mandir and moves through the lanes of Nashik’s old city. Thousands of people gather for the procession, chanting slogans like "Siyawar Ramchandra Ki Jay" (victory to Sita’s husband Ram) and "Pawansuta Hanuman Ki Jay" (victory to Hanuman, the son of wind). The Shri Ram Rath and Garud Rath, adorned with LED lights and garlands, are pulled by traditional akharas (monastic orders or sects within Hinduism) such as the Raste Akhada Talim Sangh and the Ahilyaram Vyayamshala.

The event includes vibrant dhol pathaks, firecrackers, rangoli decorations, and prashad distribution. Heavy police security is maintained, with vehicle access restricted along the procession route. As one of the most significant public celebrations in the city, the Yatra reflects Nashik’s enduring traditions of Ram Bhakti and its deep-rooted cultural identity.

The Shri Bhairavanath Jatra at Vadner-Bhairao is an annual festival held on Chaitra Sud 13 and 14 (March–April) to celebrate the marriage of Shri Bhairavanath and Devi Jogeshwari.

The Bhairavanath Mandir, believed to have been built by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, houses three-foot-high black stone murtis of Bhairavanath and Jogeshwari. These murtis are adorned with gold-plated eyebrows, moustache, lips, and silver ornaments. To the east of the Mandir are images of Shri Nandikeshwar (Mahadev), Shri Jagdamba, and Shri Malharrao Holkar. The Mandir pujari, from the Gurav community, performs daily puja in the morning, with arti at noon and again in the late evening, followed by prasad distribution.

The marriage procession of Bhairavanath begins on Chaitra Sud 13, with the Devta carried in a palkhi. A kelwan (offering ceremony) follows, during which devotees present Mundavalya, Shela, and turbans to the Devta. On Chaitra Sud 14, Bhairavanath is placed in a larger palkhi drawn by bullocks. Specific village families are honored with roles in yoking the bullocks, placing the Devta in the palkhi, and guarding its ornaments. The village Patil receives the privilege of harnessing his bullocks first. Throughout the procession, bhakts wave arti lamps made of sweet oil and break coconuts on the palkhi’s yoke. The bullocks pulling the palkhi are periodically changed, as it is believed that those who harness their animals to the palkhi gain lifelong immunity from diseases.

By noon, the palkhi reaches Janosa Ghar, a Mandir located outside the village, where the Devta is placed. A pandal built by the Mali community provides shelter for yatris during darshan. At sunset, the marriage ceremony takes place, after which Bhairavanath carries his bride, Devi Jogeshwari, back to Vadner-Bhairao. The return procession is led by village bullocks and accompanied by tom-tom beaters.

Some believe Bhairavanath has the power to fulfill wishes, and many take vows promising offerings in exchange for children, employment, or relief from ailments. Common vows include showering bananas and sweets on the palkhi or performing dandavat pranam and lotangan along the procession route. Lotangan is performed up to the Ganapati Mandir, while dandavats continue until Janosa Ghar.

Local tradition holds that a Teli (oil-seller) woman once carried Bhairavanath in her basket to Vadner-Bhairao. Because of this, the palkhi stops in front of a Teli household on Chaitra Sud 14. The following morning, after a special puja, the palkhi resumes its journey, returning to the Mandir by noon on Chaitra Sud 15. The village’s name, Vadner-Bhairao, is believed to have originated from its close association with Shri Bhairavanath.

The Shri Shani Maharaj Jatra is held in the village of Nasratpur, now part of Pardhadi in Nandgaon Taluka. The Shani Maharaj Mandir is located near Pimparkhed village, making it easily accessible to yatris.

The Shani Maharaj Mandir is considered one of the 31 prominent Shani Pithas in India. It houses a swayambhu stone murti of Shani Maharaj, which stands about three ft. tall and is believed to be over 400 years old. The present Mandir structure was constructed in 1931.

Puja rituals at the Mandir include abhishek (ritual bathing) of the Devta, following the Ekadashni puja tradition. People offer coconuts, incense sticks, camphor, gulal, sweet oil, black cloth, horseshoes, iron nails, udid (black gram), Bel leaves, and flowers. Naivedya (food offered to a Devi/Devta) typically includes coconuts and sugar candy, with cooked food offerings made at noon. Satyanarayan puja is also commonly performed, with dal and batti (wheat flour preparation) offered to the Devta. On Gudi Padwa, a Gudi is raised at the Mandir, and a Harinam Saptaha, continuous bhajans for 24 hours, is observed.

Nasratpur, historically a thriving settlement, still bears remnants of its past, including old fort ruins and stone-lime field bunds estimated to be around 300 years old. Local legends tell of King Vikram of Ujjaini, who once mocked Shani Maharaj after hearing a myth that his birth had blinded both his parents. In response, Shani is said to have cursed the king, causing his horse to fly into the sky and land in the dense forest where the Mandir now stands. Another legend from the Padma Purana recounts that Bhagwaan Ram, during his 14-year exile, spent time near a stream called Chandra Kala. There, he is said to have sculpted a murti of Mahadev from sand and established a Shani murti before leaving for Panchavati.

Shani Maharaj holds an important place among the Navagraha (nine planetary Devtas) and is believed to influence not just humans but also bhagwaans and rakshasas alike.

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar is held every 12 years when the planet Jupiter (Brihaspati) enters the Leo (Simha) zodiac sign. Rooted in both astrological alignment and Puranic legend, it commemorates the cosmic event of Samudra Manthan, where drops of amrit (nectar of immortality) are believed to have fallen at four sites: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar.

The festival takes place at Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, where the Godavari River originates from Brahmagiri Hills, and at Ramkund in Nashik city. According to belief, during the Kumbh, all holy rivers spiritually converge at this site, and all Devis and Devtas are said to be present at Trimbakeshwar.

The Kumbh Mela lasts for nearly a year, drawing millions of yatris, ascetics, and bhakts. The event is marked by the Shahi Snan (a royal procession of sadhus from various akharas) who bathe ceremonially at Kushavarta Tirtha in Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund in Nashik. Akharas such as Ahabbani, Nirvani, Niranjani, Nathpanthi, and Udasin, along with sects like Zukkad, Sukkad, Godzhad, and Lodhad, participate in elaborate processions featuring elephants, horses, and music. The first holy bath, called the Dhwaja Parva, signals the formal commencement of the Mela.

Uniquely, unlike other Kumbh Melas where all akharas bathe together, here the Shaiva (Sanyasi and Udasin) akharas bathe at Trimbakeshwar, while the Vaishnava akharas bathe at Ramkund. This practice began under the Peshwa administration in the 18th–19th century, to avoid clashes between sects.

The Triveni Sangam (the confluence of the Godavari, Aruna, and Kapila rivers) also holds ritual importance, especially for early morning dips, poojas, and darshan during the Mela. Nearby mandirs dedicated to Bhagwaan Shiv, Bhagwaan Ram, and Devi Godavari become major sites of worship during this time.

In addition to ritual bathing, the Kumbh features spiritual discourses, religious debates, and yagnas conducted by saints and scholars. The mela also showcases folk performances, bhajans, and cultural programs that reflect India's religious and artistic diversity.

The last Simhastha Kumbh in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar was held in 2015–16, with extensive arrangements made for sanitation, safety, accommodation, and crowd management. Environmental initiatives such as river cleaning drives and eco-friendly waste management were also introduced. The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh is more than a religious gathering: it is a living confluence of ritual, community, and cosmic belief.

Sula Fest, held in the first week of February at Sula Vineyards in Nashik, is India’s biggest vineyard music festival. Set against the scenic backdrop of rolling hills and the Gangapur Lake, the festival combines global music, gourmet food, and fine wines. Visitors can enjoy grape stomping, wine masterclasses, and curated shopping experiences. The main highlight is the musical event, featuring performances by national and international artists.