visit to shiridi

hi , 

Nothing helps unwind like a trip to a nice , calm place !! well , our family( which includes my dad , mom and bro ) went to visit Shiridi to offer religious prayers . Shiridi is a small town , about 0.5 hours from a village called  Kopergaon , Maharashtra. We are in the habit of going there every year during this time . This time things were very different . There was heightened security , the routes were changed ( There were rules concerning entry and exit through specific gates , no handbags were allowed , we were not allowed to touch the samadi too  ) and there was a swell   in the number of people who had come to seek Shirdi Baba's blessings . This is perplexing because 2 years ago , the crowd wasn't as suffocating as this . This can partly be attributed to the rise in the number of serials featuring life and teachings  of Baba . On the 15th March , there were atleast 150,000 in the temple , party because it was a sunday and because  and that was the fifth day ofthe festival  Holi  ( an important day where even Baba used to play Holi )  We waited in the queue for at least 2 hours but had a memorable Darshan in the sanctum sanctorum . We didn't expect such a crowd and were taken aback .Shiridi has become another Tirupati . It has become more like a commercial spot and has lost it religious purpose . It is very saddening to see this . 

We also visited Khandoba temple just 15 minuted from the main Shiridi temple , but not many people know of  this . It was the place where Mahalsapati ( one of the devotees of Sai Baba first saw and beckoned to him saying " Aao Sai "( In English it translates to come sai ) . We also wanted to visit Rahata ( where Baba stayed for a year) but were unable to do so due to constaint of time .  

Shiridi is truly a magical place where miracles happen , well at least happened to us , many times too . So if you ever get an opportunity to go there please visit it . 

I would also like to reflect upon the lack of civic sense by some people .  Once they reach their destination , they leave all the unwanted stuff like banana skin , uneaten food  , water bottles etc back in the train and fail to understand that it needs  be used by other people too(  this was done by elite people who travel in 2nd A/C). Can't they take 5 minutes to clean it up ?? these people, clearly ,are literate but not educated . 

so ... develop an attitude that would benefit everybody !!

until next time

BYE!!!