Nashik sets world record for ‘Shankhnad’ ahead of Kumbh:517 people participate, 303 took part earlier; mela to begin on 31 October 31

In Maharashtra’s Nashik, 517 devotees blew ‘Shankh’ together on Sunday to set a Guinness World Record. The event was held on the banks of the Godavari River. It was organised ahead of the flag-hoisting ceremony of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela. The participants blew the ‘Shank’ for five minutes and 30 seconds. According to the organisers, specially certified ‘Shankhs’ were brought from Chennai for the event. Guinness World Records senior judge Rishi Nath announced the record at Devmamledar Yashwant Maharaj Patangan. Previously, the record for blowing conch shells together was held by 303 people in New Jersey, United States, in 2019. The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu religious event held in the two holy cities every 12 years. The fair will run from 31 October to 24 July 2028. President Murmu to attend flag-hoisting ceremony NTKMA Commissioner Shekhar Singh said the initiative would help link the tradition with the auspicious beginning of the Kumbh Mela. He said 251 participants would blow Shankh during the flag-hoisting ceremony on 31 October. The Kumbh Mela flag-hoisting ceremony will be held at Ramkund at 12:02 p.m. on 31 October. President Droupadi Murmu has been invited to the ceremony. The Guinness World Records certificate will also be presented at the event. Many expected to attend the Kumbh Mela The Kumbh Mela will run for 20 months, with 44 auspicious bathing occasions in Nashik and 53 in Trimbakeshwar. The government estimates that 8-10 crore devotees will visit Nashik and another 4crore will visit Trimbakeshwar. A key feature of the Nashik Kumbh Mela is that Vaishnav and Shaiv akharas hold their ritual baths at separate pilgrimage sites. Nashik and Trimbakeshwar are regarded as the two main centres of the same event. Why is it called the Simhastha Kumbh? The Nashik Kumbh is called the Simhastha Kumbh because the traditional astrological calculations place special significance on Jupiter entering Leo. The dates are not determined solely by the regular calendar; religious traditions, planetary positions and agreement among the akharas also play a role. According to Hindu belief, a struggle broke out between the gods and demons over a pot of nectar during the churning of the ocean. Legend holds that drops of the nectar fell at four places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. This belief is associated with the tradition of holding the Kumbh Mela at these locations. ​