The face of a Naga sadhu during Kumbh Mela

Naked Hindu holy men prepare to bath in the Godavari River during…

The turnout at Trimbakeshwar and Nashik at the first “shahi snan” of the ongoing Simhastha Kumbh Mela was much lower than estimated by the authorities.

Indian Dental Association (IDA), in association with Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, as part of their endeavor to create awareness about oral hygiene and Oral Cancer amongst thousands of pilgrims, is participating in the Jana Swasthya Abhiyan, an initiative of Department of Public Health, Government of Maharashtra.

Other sects quickly followed, shedding their orange robes and splashing joyously in the ghat before being moved on hastily by police to make way for the next wave of devotees.

Unlike the Kumbh Mela at Prayag, Ujjain and Haridwar, the Kumbh Mela in Nashik is different as Vaishnavites and Shaivites take their holy dip separately.

On Saturday, on the twin pilgrim centres of Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, at least one crore devotees are expected to converge for the first “Shahi Snan” of the Kumbh Mela.

Thirty-nine pilgrims were trampled to death when the religious festival was last held on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik, around 160 kilometres (100 miles) from Mumbai, in 2003.

However, the Shahi Snan at Trimbakeshwar witnessed some chaotic scenes after regular pilgrims were allowed to join the sadhus during the holy dip leading to some pandits expressing their displeasure.

“No, nothing like that, it all went well”, K. Moghe, the district information officer for Nashik, said.

When the coins were thrown they scrambled to gather them, resulting in dozens of people suffocating, according to reports at the time. Raw sewage often flows in the Godavari River, bringing with it high bacteria levels.

Observant Hindus consider that 4 drops of holy nectar have been spilled way back throughout a battle between gods and demons. The next two baths are scheduled for 13 September and 18 September.