Members of the Board of Management, Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi cordially invite you to join them in celebrating 92nd "Shri Sai Baba Punyathithi Festival" from Saturday 16th October to Tuesday 19th October at Shirdi.

With the blessings of Sai Baba.
Yours Sincerely:
Kishore More (Executive Officer)
Shankarrao Kolhe (Vice Chairman)
Jayant Sasane (Chairman)

For and behalf of Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi - 423 109 (Maharashtra) - India

 

PROGRAMMES BY INVITED ARTISTS:

Saturday 16-10-2010 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm and 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm by invited artists.
Sunday 17-10-2010 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm and 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm by invited artists.
Monday 18-10-2010 from from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm and 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm by invited artists.
Tuesday 29-9-2009 from from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm and 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm by invited artists.

Venue :
Sainagar Campus, Shirdi

Devotee Please Note:

1. Sai Devotees desiring to participate in the Akhanad Parayan may enroll their names at the Temple stage, in Samadhi Mandir on 15-10-2010 between 2:00 pm to 6.00 pm. Participants will be selected by draw lots at 7:30 pm on the same day.

2. Sai devotees desiring to participate in the "Bhiksha Zoli" programme may enroll their names at the temple stage on 16-10-2010 between 8.00 am and 11.30 am. Participation will be selected by draw of lots on the same day at 2.00 pm.

3. Artists desiring to present their programmes on 17-10-2010 may register their names to Temple staff at announcement centre.

4. During the festival period Saisatyavrat (Satyanarayan) and Abhishek Pooja will be performed as usual.

5. On all four days of festival Auction sale as Prasad of Sacred clothes, Articles etc offered to Shri Sai Baba will be as usual.

6. The Board of Management reserves the right of making alterations in the programme as may be deemed to be necessary.

Source : shrisaibabasansthan.org

Vijayadashami

Vijayadashami in celebrated throughout India, under different names and with regional variations, as the victory of good over evil. For Sai devotees, it is venerated as the holy day that their beloved Gurudeva(Saibaba) attained mahasamadhi (also known as Punyatithi) and is a big festival in Shirdi.

Baba left his mortal coil on the 15th October 1918. Two years before i.e. in 1916 Baba gave an indication of his passing away. It was as follow. On the Vijayadashami (Dasara) Baba, all of a sudden got into wild rage in the evening, when people were returning from seemolanghan (Crossing the border of the village). Taking off His head-dress, Kafni and Langota etc. He tore them and threw them into the Dhuni before him. He stood there stark naked and with his burning red eyes shouted “You fellows now have a look and decide finally whether I am a Muslim or Hindu” Everybody was trembling with fear and nobody dared to approach Baba. After some time Bhagoji Shinde the leper devotee of Baba went Boldly near him and succeeded in tying a Langota round his waist and said,” Baba what is all this? Today is ‘Simolanghan i.e. Dasara’ Baba striking the ground with his satka said,” This is my Seemolanghan”, Baba did not cool down till 11.00 P.M. and people doubted, whether the Chavadi procession would ever take place that night. After an hour Baba resumed His normal condition and dressing Himself as usual attended the Chavadi procession. By this incident Baba suggested that Dasara was the proper time for Him to cross the border of life.

Baba gave another indication as follow :-

Ramchandra Patil became seriously ill. He tried all remedies, but finding no relief despaired of his life was awaiting for the last moment. Then one midnight Baba stood near his bed. Patil held His feet and said,” I have lost all my hopes. Please tell me definitely when I shall die”. Merciful Baba said,” Don’t be anxious, your Hundi (Death-warrant) has been withdrawn but I am afraid of Tatya Patil. He will pass away on Vijayadashami of 1918.

Ramachandra Dada soon left bed and soon was on his legs. Time passed quickly. The month of Bhadrappad of Shake 1840 (1918 A D) was ending and Tatya fell sick and was bed ridden Baba was also down with fever. Tatya had full faith in Baba. Tatya’s illness grew from bad to worse and could not move at all but always remembered Baba. The day predicated i.e. Vijayadashami was impending and Ramchandra Dada and Bala Shimpi who was told the predication were terribly Frightened about Tatya. Tatya’s end was near. But a curious thing happened, Tatya remained and Baba passed away instead. People said that Baba gave his life for Tatya and made Vijayadashami more significant for Sai devotees.

In Shirdi Vjayadashami is performed as usual. As well as with special programmes of Sai Punyatithi.

Various religious activities are arranged. Great number of people flock to Shirdi during this Festival.

On Vijayadashami ‘Brahman Bhojan’ is arranged with Dakashina (Donation to Guru). Every year the number of the honoured couples of Brahman is increasing. On the last day of the festival “SGavjewan” ( free meal for all village People and devotees is given by Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust,Shirdi.

(Ref. Shri Sai Satchritrya- Chapter-XLII)

Festival Day Schedule for 2010