Devotee Donates Rs 1.05 Crore Golden Crown to Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
A Sai devotee from Andhra Pradesh has donated a diamond-studded golden crown worth Rs 1.05 crore to Sai Baba at the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan in Shirdi on the occasion of Guru Purnima. The devotee presented the crown to the temple trust as Guru Dakshina.
A video shared on X by IANS on Tuesday captured the devotee's family carrying the ornate crown to the Sansthan office before formally presenting it to the temple trust. The video footage showed trust officials unveiling the crown, which is adorned with diamonds and other precious stones.
The offering coincided with the start of Guru Purnima festivities in Shirdi, which is one of the most significant annual celebrations for Sai Baba devotees. The festival began with a grand ceremonial procession featuring the idol of Sai Baba, the holy scripture (Pothi), and the Veena. Senior officials from the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust took part in the traditional procession alongside hundreds of devotees.
This year's Guru Purnima celebrations are taking place over three days, from July 28 to July 30. The festival ranks among the three most important annual events observed at the Shirdi temple, where devotees revere Sai Baba as their Sadguru, or spiritual master.
As part of the three-day festival, the temple trust has organised an Akhand Parayan, which involves a continuous reading of the holy text Sai Satcharita, starting at Dwarkamai. In addition, a ceremonial procession carrying Sai Baba's idol and the holy palakhi is taken out every morning immediately after the Kakad Aarti, drawing large crowds of devotees from across the country.
The main day of Guru Purnima falls on July 29. On this day, the Samadhi Mandir will remain open round the clock to facilitate darshan for the expected surge of pilgrims arriving at the shrine.
To manage the heavy footfall expected throughout the festival, the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust has put in place elaborate arrangements. These include measures for crowd management, security enhancements, and extended temple services.
Guru Purnima is celebrated by devotees as an occasion to express gratitude to their spiritual guide through prayers, devotional offerings, and acts of devotion. Donations made to the shrine during this festival are regarded as Guru Dakshina, symbolising deep respect and reverence for the guru.
