Nashik Sets Second Guinness World Record in a Week as 6,233 Devotees Perform Collective Godavari Aarti

Nashik, 31st October 2026: Nashik has entered the Guinness World Records for the second time in a week, with 6,233 devotees performing a collective aarti of the Godavari River at Ramteerth on Saturday. President Droupadi Murmu attended the grand ceremony organised as part of the Dhwajarohan programme marking preparations for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Maha Kumbh 2027.

The event brought together thousands of devotees, saints and members of tribal communities, turning the riverfront into a large-scale celebration of faith and cultural heritage. Around 6,500 tribal participants from 650 villages across seven talukas of Nashik district took part in the programme.

The collective aarti was organised through the Ramteerth Goda Aarti Committee under the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, with guidance from Maharashtra’s Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan.

President Murmu performed the Godavari pujan and witnessed the aarti in the presence of saints and religious leaders. The ceremony featured thousands of lamps illuminating the riverfront, accompanied by collective chanting and traditional prayers.

Second World Record in Seven Days
The collective Godavari Aarti is Nashik’s second Guinness World Record in seven days. On October 25, 2026, a total of 517 conch blowers simultaneously performed a conch-blowing ceremony at Ramteerth, setting the first world record.

The latest achievement has added another international distinction to Nashik’s cultural and religious celebrations ahead of the 2027 Simhastha Maha Kumbh.

According to the organisers, preparations for the collective aarti involved detailed planning and coordination through the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority and the Ramteerth Goda Aarti Committee. Tribal communities from 650 villages were brought together to participate in the event.

Tribal Communities Highlighted as Custodians of Cultural Heritage

The participation of around 6,500 tribal people from the district’s tribal-dominated areas was a significant feature of the ceremony.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted the contribution of tribal communities towards preserving India’s Sanatan cultural traditions. Their participation also reflected the role of indigenous communities in sustaining cultural practices and traditions associated with nature.

The gathering brought together people from different social and cultural backgrounds, highlighting the role of religious traditions in promoting social harmony and unity.

President Murmu Expresses Concern Over Drought

The ceremony also drew attention to the drought situation affecting several parts of Maharashtra.

In her address, President Murmu referred to the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions across the world and noted that drought had affected people, particularly farmers, in Maharashtra and other parts of the country.

She expressed confidence that the Central and state governments would extend the necessary support to farmers and other affected citizens while ensuring their dignity and welfare.

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma also offered prayers for relief from drought, expressing hope that the blessings of the Godavari would bring prosperity to Maharashtra and improve the lives of farmers.

He prayed for the return of prosperity to the state’s agricultural communities and for Maharashtra to become prosperous and agriculturally productive once again.

The ceremony thus combined the spiritual significance of the Godavari with concerns over environmental conservation and the challenges faced by farming communities.

Focus on Godavari Conservation

The event also highlighted the importance of protecting the Godavari, which holds immense religious, cultural and economic significance for Nashik and Maharashtra.

The President urged citizens to make sustained individual and collective efforts towards environmental conservation. She also expressed confidence that the upcoming Simhastha Maha Kumbh would set an example in cleanliness and waste management through effective arrangements and public participation.

With two Guinness World Records in seven days, Nashik has added an international dimension to its preparations for the Simhastha Maha Kumbh 2027. The collective aarti brought together religious traditions, public participation and the cultural contributions of tribal communities along the banks of the Godavari.