Shirdi is a village in Maharashtra in Gopargaon Taluka and Ahmed Nagar district. The village would have remained unknown  like any other village in the rural India. But today, it is the abode to Shirdi Sai Baba Sansathan which houses the divine shrine of the Lord. Baba was once a fakir (a man who had nothing of his own and one who lived on alms, or a saint) roaming in the dusty roads of this same village.

On this day way back in 1918 the saint of saints, attained maha samadhi. October 15 in that year was the Vijaya Dasami day and to this day the Navarathir ustsav is celebrated with pomp and grandeur in this holy village.

OM SAI
SRI SAI
JAYA JAYA SAI

Baba, settled in Shirdi and his origin is unknown. The first sightings in the village was when he accompanied the wedding caravan into Shirdi with Chand Patel family. He preferred to stay back and that brought immense repute to this village. 

Dasara is celebrated as Puniyathithi in this religious town for which people flock from across the globe. The celebrations shall start on Tuesday, 23 October to 26 October, Friday.

There is a programme of puja, music (bhajan) public parayana (reading of scriptures and devotional texts) and exuberant processions with the palanquin and the Rath (cart). The Samadhi Mandir remains open all night during 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.

It is a virtual delight to the devotees who turn out in large numbers. The blend of devotees only suggests the fakir's oft repeated statement, 'Sab Ka Malik Ek (God is One).'

(With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)