Proximity to Ujjain draws devotees to Nashik for holy dip

Nashik: Ujjain's proximity to Nashik, the two Kumbh venues located at a distance of 786km from each other, has made it convenient for pilgrims to take a holy dip in the sacred waters of the Shipra (Ujjian) and the Godavari (Nashik) during the Kumbh Mela, at one go.
So devotees attending the just-started Kumbh Mela at Ujjain are also taking a detour to travel to Nashik where the mega-religious event is yet to end.
Kokilaben Sheth (54) from Ahemdabad, who took a holy dip in Ujjain Kumbh on Friday, unexpectedly expressed a desire to visit Ramkund in Nashik. Without a second thought, her son steered her car towards Nashik.
Kiran Rajput of Mumbai came to Nashik to attend a family function in Sinnar and decided to take a holy dip in Ramkund. Realising that Ujjain was just a few hundred kilometres away and would take only half a day to reach, he decided to travel there too.
Another group of women from Mumbai have come to Nashik following their Ujjain trip.
These pilgrims claim that a trip to Nashik makes their religious journey complete, adding that there was something about Ramkund that beckons people towards it.
"We had not planned to visit Nashik, but since the distance was not much and Ramkund has a strong connection with Ramayan, I expressed my desire to visit the place. Besides, Hindus throughout the world come here to perform rituals and with ongoing Kumbh, it's an auspicious time to take te holy dip. I feel blessed, I feel as if I've completed the pilgrimage of my lifetime," said Kokilaben.
Rajput on the other had said, "Since Kumbh has just started in Ujjain, the atmosphere there will be electric. I'm eager to go there," said Rajput.
Ramila Badaraka, another devotee, said, "Coming to Nashik and Ramkund is like completing the Hindu pilgrimage of the ‘char dham'."
Shanta Boricha said that all the 33 crore Hindu gods and goddesses were in Nashik while in Ujjain, they experienced only lord Shiva.
Pramila Gohil said, "We like this place so much, we have been hanging around for hours here."
Maniben Jaisingh, another pilgrim, felt that Ramkund was a special place for all pilgrims and she, along with her friends, will be in the city for a few more days.