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SHIRDI FESTIVAL DATES SCHEDULE FOR 2009-10
IMPORTANT FESTIVALS
The three main festivals in Shirdi are of two to four days each. They are
Ramnavami 
(March/April),
Guru Purnima
(July),and
Vijayadashami 
(September). These festivals arecelebrated with great passion, verve and heartfulness. Thousands flock to bathe in the gracewhich seems to flow especially freely at such time. There is a programme of 
 puja,
music
(bhajan)
public
 parayana
(reading of scriptures and devotional texts) and exuberantprocessions with the palanquin and the Rath (cart). The Samadhi Mandir remains open all nightduring one of these days with
Dwarkamai 
being open the previous night and there are all night
bhajan
and qawali sessions at various locations in the village. Printed programmes with fulldetails are available at the Sansthan Office.
RAMNAVAMI
I
n 1897, Gopalrao Gund proposed holding in
Urus
as in expression of hisgratitude to Baba for having been granted the birth of a son after many childlessyears. Baba gave his permission for the celebration and fixed th
e
day for
Ramnavami.
This was an ingenious touch of Baba’s.
Urus
is a Muslim festival honoring aMuslim Saint( usually one who passed away); by holding the
Urus
, on the day of a Hindufestival, the two communities were brought closer tighter in a natural yet remarkable way.Things were going on in this way and the fair was gradually increasing in importance till1912. When a change took place. That year one devotee Mr. Krishnarao Jogeshwar Bhishmcame to the fair, he was staying in
Dixit Wada.
A new thought arose in his mind and he costed aletter thus. There is some provindential arrangement in the fact that the Urus or fair iscelebrated in Shirdi on the Ram Navami day. The
Ram Navami  
day is very dear to all theHindus then why not begin the
Ram Navami 
festival the celebration of the birth of Shri Ram onthis day here. Kaka Mahajani liked the idea and it was arranged to get Baba’s permission inthis matter. Bhishm solved the difficulty of 
Kritan
by saying that his
Ram Akhyan,
thecomposition on Rama’s birth was ready and he would do the
Kritan
himself while KakaMahajani should play on the harmonium. It was also arranged to get ‘
Suntharwada
’(ginger powder mixed with sugar) as Prasad prepared by Radhakrishnamai. So the went to
masjid 
to get Baba’s permission Bhishma explained the idea of celebrating
Ram Navami 
festival and asked for Baba’s permission and Baba gladly gave it. All rejoiced and madepreparations for the
Jayanti 
festival. Next day the
masjid 
was decorated. A cradle was suplliedby Radhakrishnamai and placed in front of Baba’s seat and the proceedingstated Bhishmastood up for Kritan and Mahajani played on the Harmonium. Baba took a garland form the
 
‘Nimber’
and placed it round his neek and sent another for Bhishma. Then the Kritancommenced. That day’s programme including
Mahapuja
and Arti was Finished. Later onMr. Mahajani asked Baba for permission to remove the cradle. Baba refused the same sayingthat the festival was not yet finished. Next day another 
Kritan
and Gopalkala ceremony wasperformed and the Baba allowed the cradle to be removed. While the
Ram-Navami 
Festivalwas thus going on, the procession of the two flags by day and that of the sandal by night, wentoff with the usual pomp and show. From this time onwards the Urus of Baba was transformedinto the
Ram Navami 
Festival and began to grow gradually year by year, Radhakrishnamaistarted
Naam-saptah
. ‘Shirdi’ looked like a behive of men. It is to be noted that both the Hindus and Mohammedans have been working together in both the procession during the entire festival and there has been no confrontations or quarrelbetween them at all so far.In Shirdi, two locally historic rituals are carried out during this festival: the sack of wheatthat is kept in
Dwarkamai 
is changed and the old one taken to
 prasadalaya
to be used there,and secondly, the
dwarkamai 
flags are replaced. When
Urus
was first celebrated, GopalraoGund prevailed upon his friend to supply a flag for the procession. This was Damu Anna Rasneof Ahmednagar who had similarly been blessed by Sai Baba with Son’s having come toBaba for this Purpose on the recommendation of shama’s father – in – law .In addition,Gund asked Nanasaheb Nimonkar to supply a second flag with embroidery. This was also doneand both flags (described as “huge†by M. W.
Pradhan, who saw them) were taken inprocession through the village and fixed the two corners of 
Dwarkamai 
. Descendants of thesetwo devotees continue this tradition and flags are brought and offered at Baba’s Samadhibefore being taken on a grand procession. Various religious activities are arranged Great number of people flock to Shirdi during thisFestival. 
(Ref. Shri Sai Satchritrya- Chapter-VI)
 
FESTIVAL DAY SCHEDULE FOR 2009-10 
1.
Shri Ram Navami
From 2..04.2009 to 4.04.2009a)
Chaitra Sh. 7
Thursday (Begins)2.04.2009b)
Chaitra Sh. 8/9
Friday (Main Day)3.04.2009c)
Chaitra Sh. 10
Saturday (Ends)4.04.2009
 
 
GURU PURNIMA
 
Guru Purnima
(“ Purnima means full- moonâ€) is the one which disciples and
 devotees honour and felicitate their guru and seek his or her special blessing. Although it is of great importance in Shirdi, perhaps because it is the only festival which Baba asked us tocelebrate. The festival originated in the Buddha’s time when the monks used to Tate diksba(instructions on their spiritual practice) at the beginning of the annual four month rains-retreat. Thepractice was then borrowed be the Jain tradition and later the Hindus.
Hindu’s Puran says that programme respecting or worshiping
‘Guru’
on this day started at the time of 
‘Vyas’
writer of MahabharatBaba asserted the signifitucance of this day indirectly.
Once, in 1908, Tadyasaheb Noolkar came to Shirdi and stayed in
Chavadi.
One day Babatold Madhavrao to tell him to worship that post (pillar). The post Baba showed was near the
Dhuni 
and Baba used to lean it. That day was the day of He was glad to have chance to worship atleast the post in Masjid.Then Madhavrao Deshpande went into the
Masjid.
Baba told him toworship the same post along with Noolhar. But Madhavrao refused and insead requested to allowhim to worship Baba himself. At last Baba gave the permission. Dadasaheb Kelkar was unaware of this
Puja.
Tatya Kote Patil was called from the farm.People gathered the
‘Puja’
material.
Dhoti 
was brought and people put on
Dhoti 
to Baba,and worshiped him. Baba had no use of clothes but he gave permission in order to start theroutine of 
Vyas puja.
Thus this
Puja
was started at Baba’s time and now has taken form of Festival lasting for three days. Various religious activities are arranged Great number of people flock to Shirdi during thisFestival. 
(Ref. Shiladhi - Marathibook)
 
FESTIVAL DAY SCHEDULE FOR 2009 
02.
Shri Gurupournima
From 6.07.2009 to 8.07.2009a)
Ashadha Sh. 14
Monday (Begins)6.07.2009
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