SHRI GURU PURNIMA CELEBRATIONS

2010`SHIRDI

Shirdi: On the occasion of 'Guru Purnima' festival, a large number of

people flocked to Shirdi, to offer their prayers to their Guru "Shri Sai
Baba" on Sunday 25th July`2010.

A festive ambience pervaded the small town of Shirdi in Maharashtra,

where a sea of believers converged at the famed shrine of the revered
saint, Sai Baba, to offer their prayers. Around 5 lakh devotees queued
up outside the shrine since early morning just to get a glimpse of the
deity, who used to be viewed as the Guru by many people.

"Baba is the central force of the universe. When Baba used to sit in the
shrine, his followers used to offer prayers and worship him on the
Guru Purnima (full moon day). This practice gained prominence ever
since and has been followed till date, to commemorate Baba's
influence on his followers," said Vidya Kshirsagar, a priest.
Devotees offered Garlands, Sweets & Gold / Diamond / Silver Items to
the Shrine of the Saint, as they sought his blessings.

The number of devotees was estimated at around 5 lakh in one

day itself, which was mainly because:
1) Gurupurnima celebrations had completed its 100th year since it
was first celebrated in Shirdi,
2) The Temple remained open the entire night for devotees to have
Baba's Darshan.
3) 25th July being a Sunday (Holiday), poured in more than expected
number of devotees.

The Temple authorities made elaborate security arrangements to avoid

any untoward incident. Even though it had been Raining the whole
day, devotees from all over reached the Temple since early morning,
on the auspicious day.

Apart from Baba's Traditional Wooden Chariot (Rath) which is

now converted into Gold, the Shirdi Sansthan possesses one
another old Wooden Chariot (Rath) also, which it had planned
to auction away on Gurupurnima itself but on strong objections
by devotees, the Sansthan had to cancel the Auctioning off.
Reasons attributed by the devotee's were that when the
Sansthan is not short of Money or Space to keep the Chariot,
then why were they Auctioning away Baba's items.

Also, owing to the ever growing rush of devotees at Shirdi,

the Stone in Dwarkamai on which Baba used to Sit, has now
been enclosed in a See through Glass frame.
 "Best COsmetic fOr the Mind is Wisdom,
fOr the ThOughts is Trust,
fOr the Eyes is Pity,
fOr the Lips is Truth,
fOr the VOice is Prayer,
fOr the Hands is Charity,
fOr the Heart is COmpassiOn,
& fOr Life is Blessings.
Always keep these in your Beauty BOx (Heart)."......anOnymOus

GODNIER !!!
tAke cAre : rOhit beHaL