Thirty-nine pilgrims were trampled to death and dozens injured when the religious festival was last held on the banks of the Godavari river in the city of Nashik, around 160 kilometres (100 miles) northeast of Mumbai, in 2003.
“We have learnt lessons from that stampede and have changed the route for the‘Shahi Snan’ (main dip) to avoid tight alleys and steep slopes to the bathing ghats (steps leading to the river),” Nashik district information officer K. Moghe told AFP.
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