The India Meteorological Department has forecast light rain in Nashik on Saturday, when the Simhastha Kumbh Mela Dhwajarohan ceremony is scheduled at Ramkund on the Godavari river, while the city’s minimum temperature has risen sharply amid unsettled weather across the district.
The forecast is significant for the noon flag-hoisting ceremony, which is expected to draw devotees, seers and dignitaries to Ramkund. The Dhwajarohan is a ceremonial milestone in the run-up to the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela, whose main Amrit Snans are scheduled for August-September 2027.
Weather conditions have remained changeable in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar over the past few days. Trimbakeshwar received light to moderate rain on Friday evening during the procession of the Simhastha Mahadhwaj in the temple town. Nashik city and several parts of the district also remained cloudy on Friday afternoon.
Parts of Nashik city received moderate to heavy rain for around 15 to 20 minutes on Thursday night. Several locations in the district reported unseasonal rain on Friday, including villages in Sinnar taluka, where light showers were recorded in the afternoon. Sarole, Vangaon and Khangaon in Niphad taluka received heavy rain for around an hour.
Lasalgaon and adjoining areas also witnessed unseasonal rain, while villages in Deola taluka recorded light showers. The spread of rainfall across different parts of the district has added uncertainty to outdoor movement and arrangements around the ceremony, although the IMD forecast for Saturday indicates light rain in Nashik.
Cloud cover has also affected temperatures in the city. Nashik recorded a minimum temperature of 20°C on Friday, sharply higher than the 14.3°C recorded on Wednesday. The daytime temperature, however, declined marginally to 32.5°C on Friday from 33.3°C on Thursday.
The temperature shift follows the recent spell of variable weather and means that conditions during the ceremony could differ from the warmer afternoons recorded earlier in the week. The forecast will be particularly relevant for people travelling to Ramkund, where the ceremony is scheduled to take place in an open, riverfront setting.
The Dhwajarohan ceremony forms part of the preparations for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela. The main bathing events are planned for August-September 2027, making the flag-hoisting ceremony an early public milestone in the festival’s preparations.
The IMD’s forecast of light rain remains the latest weather indication for Saturday’s ceremony. The event is scheduled to be held at noon at Ramkund in Nashik.
