Shirdi to remain closed for indefinite period from May 1
Shirdi, a prominent religious tourism spot in Maharashtra, is expected to experience an indefinite closure from May 1. When Pune Pulse spoke to the management of the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple the officials informed that the protest is organised by the villagers in protest of the government’s choice to deploy the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to safeguard the temple. The temple officials informed that the temple is open for darshan for devotees while the shopkeepers outside the temple and the villagers have called for the bandh.
The official further stated that CISF can be a good choice at other places, but not Shirdi temple.
Shirdi, a town in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, houses the most significant temple devoted to Sai Baba. This small town is a popular tourist destination, drawing millions of people annually from various religious backgrounds across the globe.
The temple is situated on the Ahmednagar-Manmad highway and is governed by the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust. CISF was given the responsibility of securing the Shirdi airport in 2018, and the government has now planned to assign the force to safeguard the Sai Baba Temple.
Nonetheless, the temple’s administration has raised objections to this decision, asserting that the CISF lacks the appropriate training and experience to tackle the distinctive security obstacles that a religious shrine presents.
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust is responsible for supervising the management of the temple premises, which involves offering free meals, accommodation, and other amenities, as well as operating charitable schools and colleges.
