Mumbai, Oct 21 President Droupadi Murmu has been invited to the flag-hoisting ceremony marking the launch of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela on October 31.
A delegation led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar met the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday to formally extend the invitation, according to an official release.
Fadnavis formally invited Murmu to the flag-hoisting ceremonies in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar and presented her with a special gift hamper showcasing Maharashtra’s diverse heritage, including its spiritual traditions, tribal entrepreneurship, textile arts, agricultural prosperity and food culture, it said.
The President has also been invited to attend the Godavari Aarti, the launch of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority’s website, the release of the Kumbh Mela song, and the unveiling of a coffee-table book and a commemorative postal stamp on the religious gathering, all scheduled for October 31.
The delegation included select ministers, representatives of priest associations and religious organisations, Simhastha Kumbh Mela Authority Chairman and Divisional Commissioner Praveen Gedam, and Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh.
The invitation features an artistic pop-up design depicting the Kumbh Mela’s mythological origins, spiritual significance, and grandeur.
It incorporates elements associated with the five senses- sight, sound, smell, taste and touch- to highlight Nashik’s cultural heritage, the Godavari River, and the festival’s significance in Indian tradition, according to the release.
The gift hamper includes products from Shabari Naturals under the state Tribal Development Department, such as incense sticks, millet-based food products, mahua flower products, bamboo articles, forest honey, and a Paithani saree from Yeola.
Black raisins and cashews represent Nashik’s agricultural wealth, while the city’s traditional chivda snack, along with selected sweets and dry fruits, features in the gift collection, the release added.
(PTI News)
