1st May 2023: As per reports, the famous Shirdi Temple is shutting down, is that true? What does the temple authority have to say about it?
The Sai Baba, Shirdi Temple, as per various media sources had over 25,000 devotees visiting everyday on an average.
3rd richest temple in the country after Tirumala-Tirupati-Venkteswara Temple and Meenakshi Temple-Madurai (in that order) with assets over Rs. 320 crores (as per india.com report of November, 2022)
This prominent religious and tourism spot in Maharashtra was supposed to be closed down from 1st May 2023 until further news.
As per reports, to protest the government's decision to send the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to protect the temple, the administration of the Sai Baba Temple scheduled this closure.
This would have greatly impacted the thousands of worshippers who go to the Shirdi Saibaba shrine each year The local hotels, eateries, and stores may also be significantly impacted because they rely largely on travellers.
However, the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) refuted the media reports and assumptions in a statement posted to its website, stating “On behalf of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, darshan at Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple, all the Aartis and all the religious traditions will continue on Monday 01st May 2023 and thereafter all the facilities from Sansthan such as Shri Sai Prasadalaya, all Bhakt Niwas locations and Hospitals etc would be functioning regularly as always. This information was provided by Mr Rahul Jadhav, I/C Chief Executive Officer of the Sansthan,"
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) has dismissed reports of shutdown and made it clear that all places of worship and services would continue as usual. The SSST said that it was the Indian government, not the temple management, that took the decision to deploy the CISF.
According to reports, the government is allegedly opposing the deployment of the CISF, a force that mostly guards industrial facilities, metro stations, and airports, by causing the alleged closure. Officials said that the trust thought the CRPF was unprepared to manage the temple's protection.
Aside from these ongoing controversies, Shirdi is one of Maharashtra’s most important pilgrimage towns. One of Maharashtra's most significant pilgrimage centres is Shirdi. The shrine's patron god, Sai Baba, a 19th-century saint, attracted people of all religions and served as the hub of the community's business endeavours. Thousands of migrant workers are employed in the little town, which has a recorded population of just over 36,000 people today. According to some estimates, Shirdi receives 60,000 visitors each day, with numbers rising to 100,000 on weekends and 500,000 on important days like Gurupoornima, Dussehra, and Ramnavami.
Devotees who wait in line for hours to get blessings from the deceased saint also find solace there. One doesn't have to be a follower or even a believer to see Shirdi's importance to the region's economy and way of life.
