Simhastha Kumbh Mela, the largest congregation of any faith in the world held after every 12 years, on Tuesday began with the traditional hoisting of flags as tens of thousands of sadus and other people took a holy dip in Kushavart and Ramkund in Godavari river here. In Trimbakeshwar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and state Women and Child Welfare minister Pankaja Munde were the chief guests while CM Devendra Fadnavis presided over a function at Nashik. The Mela will see the spectacular ‘shahi snan’ (royal bath), when seers and sadhus of various ‘akharas’ (sects) take dip in river in large numbers folowing colourful procession, at Trimbakeshwar on August 29, September 13 and 25. Nearly three lakh sadhus are expected to be in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar for the religious gathering.