Shirdi

A magnet for Sai-bhaktas and the birthplace of the great saint Sai Baba, Shirdi is a religious site in Maharashtra. It has a lot of temples and a few places of historical significance. It is located in the Ahmednagar district of the state.

This small town is always hustling with religious activities that bring peace to one’s body and soul. The grandeur of it all- ringing bells, lighted lamps, and chantings impact one’s spirituality too, in the most simplistic of ways.

There are many pious places in Shirdi, like Chavadi, Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai Masjid and Shani Shignapur. The Sansthan Temple is a live example of how a significant shrine can serve more to the devotees than just a glance of their God and prasad- they offer facilities like darshan lines, donation counters, railway booking counters, and dining hall. In Shani Shingnapur, a village near Shirdi, any of the houses or shops don’t have a door attached to it. Devotees come to watch and wonder if this level of trust exists.

Dwarkamai, the heart of Shirdi, is the place where Sai baba spent his last moments. Thus it is of great importance and reverence. Lendi Baug, where Sai used to spend a lot of his time, is a beautiful garden at the Shirdi-Manmade State Highway. The Dixit Wada Museum located near the Sansthan trust displays vintage pictures of the saint and his followers. Among his other belongings, his devotees can also see his leather padukas, long robes, bathing stone, and cooking utensils.

Shirdi sure is a place every devotee comes to at least once in a lifetime.