Short answer: Nashik is one of the four places where the Kumbh Mela is held because, according to tradition, drops of the divine nectar fell here during the Samudra Manthan. The Kumbh comes to Nashik about every twelve years, when Jupiter is in Leo (Simha), which is why it is also called the Simhastha. The next one, in 2027-28, is held on the Godavari at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.
The Four Kumbh Places
The Kumbh Mela is held at four sacred places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. Each stands on a holy river, and each hosts the Kumbh in turn on a cycle of about twelve years. The Nashik Kumbh is the one on the Godavari river.
The Story of the Nectar
According to tradition, gods and demons churned the ocean in the Samudra Manthan, and a pot (kumbh) of the nectar of immortality came out. While it was being carried away, drops fell at four places. Nashik is believed to be one of them, and this is the reason pilgrims bathe in its river during the Kumbh. You can read more on our About Kumbh page.
Why It Is Called Simhastha
Tradition ties the Kumbh to the positions of the planets. The Nashik Kumbh is held when Jupiter (Brihaspati) is in Leo, which is Simha in Sanskrit. That is why it is called the Simhastha Kumbh, and why it returns to Nashik about every twelve years, which is roughly the time Jupiter takes to go around the Sun. The previous Nashik Kumbh was in 2015.
The Godavari: Why Nashik and Trimbakeshwar
The Godavari is called the Ganga of the south, and it begins near Trimbakeshwar. Pilgrims bathe at two sites: Ramkund in Nashik, where the Vaishnava akhadas take the Amrit Snan, and Kushavarta Kund in Trimbakeshwar, where the Shaiva akhadas bathe. Read the story of the river in our article on why the Godavari is called Dakshin Ganga, and learn about Ramkund and Trimbakeshwar.
What Is Different About the 2027-28 Kumbh?
The Kumbh period begins with the flag hoisting on 31 October 2026 and runs until 24 July 2028. The main Amrit Snan bathing days are 2 August, 31 August, 11 September and 12 September 2027. See the full calendar in our Kumbh dates guide, and read where the next Kumbh Mela is held.