Former President Ram Nath Kovind, CM Devendra Fadnavis Attend Religious Flag Hoisting Ceremony at Shri Kalaram Temple

Nashik, May 2026 : A ceremonial religious flag hoisting event was held at the historic Shri Kalaram Temple in Panchavati on Tuesday as part of preparations for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027-28.

Former President of India Ram Nath Kovind and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis jointly hoisted the saffron religious flag after performing traditional rituals and पूजा on a 21-foot-high Panchdhatu (five-metal) religious flag mast constructed on the lines of Ayodhya.

Several dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan, School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal, Textile Minister Sanjay Savkare, National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, Nashik Mayor Himgauri Aadke-Aher, Ayodhya Nyas Treasurer Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj, and Mahant Sudhirdas Pujari.

The religious flag mast, made from Panchdhatu, carries an 11-by-5-foot saffron flag featuring an image of Lord Hanuman along with the sacred “Om” symbol representing the Sun God.

The temple premises were decorated with elaborate lighting, floral arrangements, and traditional ornamentation for the occasion. Organisers and devotees described the event as the formal religious commencement of preparations for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

Among those present at the programme were MLAs Pankaj Bhujbal and Seema Hire, FICCI President Milind Kamble, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Praveen Gedam, Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, Kumbh Mela Authority Commissioner Shekhar Singh, Municipal Commissioner Manisha Khatri, District Collector Ayush Prasad, Additional Collectors Devdatt Kekan and Hemangi Patil, Resident Deputy Collector Rohitkumar Rajput, Deputy Mayor Vilas Shinde, priests’ association president Chandrashekhar Panchakshari, Shantaram Shastri Bhanose, Swami Amritanand, Mahants from Vaishnav and Shaiv Akhadas, trustees Shantaram Awasare and Shubham Mantri, along with several saints and religious leaders.