Row over Saibaba birthplace; activists for Shirdi bandh

Ahmednagar (Maharashtra): The world-famous Shirdi townfolk threatened a shutdown on Sunday after a controversy erupted over the purported birthplace of the revered saint, Shri Saibaba, 102 years after he took ‘samadhi’ here.

However, dismissing rumours, a top temple management official said the Shirdi Saibaba Temple will remain open and all facilities will continue as usual. “The temple will open, as usual, all ‘pujas’ and ceremonies will be performed, devotees will be free to take ‘darshan’ of Saibaba, the ‘prasadalaya’ will be offered and pilgrims’ accommodation facilities, etc, will continue as normal,” the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) Shirdi CEO Deepak Muglikar told IANS.

The Shirdi town shutdown call was issued after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray reportedly said that Pathri village in Parbhani was the birthplace of the 19th-century saint revered equally by people of all communities. He also announced a special grant of Rs 100 crore for the development of Pathri to attract pilgrims and tourists there. (IANS)

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