Shirdi Pilgrimage

The Shirdi pilgrimage area is rather compact, spread over an area of less than a square kilometer. After alighting from a bus on the main road itself, or at the bus stand near the main gate, one can proceed to any number of lodges, hotels or pest-houses, including those run by the Shirdi Sai Sansthan, and get a room ranging from fifty rupees to five thousand.
There are fancy hotels too, with swimming pool and bars, made mostly for the Bombay film industry folks, many of whom rank as devotees of Baba. For the ordinary pilgrim there is a plethora of budget hotels to choose from.

After checking in and having a refreshing bath or food, a devotee may proceed for darshan of Gurusthan. One can then go to the main Samadhi Mandir, for which there can be serpentine queues depending on the time of the day and season. The queue system is orderly, though suffocating as it is underground. When crowded, the air circulation in the queuing area is poor. Asthma patients, the elderly, the infirm and the sick can go to the PRO Office (Room 6) and get a special pass, so they don't have to stand in long lines. Generally, there are huge crowds on festive occasions like Ram Navami and Urs (April) or Gurupurnima (July) and Dusshera (October). The town of Shirdi and Samadhidarshan looks like a busy beehive and only the truly devoted who have real shraddha and saburi (faith and patience) would venture out for a Shirdi darshan on this occasion. Otherwise too, during the festivals of Holi (March), Diwali (November) and special months like adhikmaas (August) and sankran ti (January) attract lots of crowds.
It may take up to many hours in line to get inside the Samadhi chamber (the original Butti house) to have a glimpse of the great Sai statue and his samadhi. Originally, this was Baba's final resting place and later the commissioned statue was installed. Today, the Samadhi attracts millions.

The day breaks with a holy call at 4.30 am. All over town, loudspeakers ensure that devotees and pilgrims come to the main samadhi complex and await their turn to get into thesamadhi temple hall. At 5.15 am Baba is woken up affectionately and Kakad arti (day- break) is performed, after which his elaborate bath is set-up and he is washed and clad ceremoniously. Only those who stay overnight at Shirdi, or reach before 4am can partake of this sight of Baba being readied for the day.

After the holy-bath and dressing of Baba, various poojas and paths (ritual prayers) take place right uptil noon, when the most importantarti of the day is performed. After this, most visitors go off to have some lunch. So the best time to call on Baba in Samadhi Mandir is actually between 2 and 4 pm when the crowds are less. By less, one means a few hundred. Baba's darbar is never empty, and as he once said, "my devotees will flock to me like ants attracted to nectar".

In the evening around 5pm, those wishing to sing bhajans or verses in praise of Baba, or show gratitude in some way for blessings received or required can sit at the back of the hall and offer their renderings (songs). At 6.30 pm, the main evening arti, begins. This too attracts many, especially those who have arrived during the day after the noon arti. At 10 pm, the Shej arti (night prayers) are performed, after which Baba retires for the night with due ceremony and attention. In winter, he gets a blanket and in summer, a mosquito net! Baba is treated as a father, thus this display of care and concern.