MUMBAI, Dec. 17 -- To meet the demand for priests and ritual service providers during the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nashik, the state government has launched a short-term certificate course with hands-on training, already underway in a Nashik college. The course, launched by the department of skill development, employment, entrepreneurship and innovation, is being delivered jointly with the Kavi Kulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University in Ramtek. The training programme began on December 16 at the Shri Swami Akhandanand Veda Vedang Sanskrit College in Nashik. Students have signed up for a 45-day certificate course, which includes a 21-day workshop for practical training. The workshop covers topics including the scriptural and scientific significance of the Kumbh Mela, Simhastha Puja Vidhi, penance, chanting and sacred bathing practices followed at major pilgrimage centres. Participants will also be trained in Vedic and Puranic methods of worship, and various types of pujas and rituals. Special emphasis will be given to pronunciation, traditional procedures, and hands-on practices so that trainees are prepared to perform rituals during the mega-event, which begins in October 2026 and extends through 2027. The course is divided into four phases. Assessment will be carried out through weekly oral examinations and multiple-choice tests. Skill development minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said, "Sanatan Dharma and Indian culture are closely linked with scientific principles. Through this workshop, participants will gain knowledge of Vedic and Puranic traditions, their significance, and the correct methods of worship. This will also create new employment opportunities while helping preserve our cultural heritage."...