Shirdi: More than 100 palkhi processions are expected to reach Shirdi during the upcoming Ram Navami festival, with thousands of devotees undertaking traditional foot pilgrimages to the temple town to pay homage to Sai Baba.
The Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST), which manages the temple, has begun preparations to receive the devotees and facilitate the annual religious gatherings that coincide with the festival.
Every year, Ram Navami draws large numbers of devotees to Shirdi, many of whom travel long distances on foot as part of a long-standing spiritual tradition. This year too, several groups from Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra have already begun their journeys, some starting even before the Gudi Padwa festival in March.
The palkhi tradition involves devotees carrying symbolic palanquins dedicated to Sai Baba while walking in groups towards Shirdi. For many participants, the journey itself is considered an act of devotion rather than merely travel to a destination.
Despite rising temperatures, devotees continue the journey with minimal facilities, with some choosing to walk barefoot as part of their spiritual commitment. Many participants describe the pilgrimage as a yearly tradition followed by families and local devotional groups.
Temple authorities said arrangements are being made to assist the incoming pilgrims. The Sansthan has been coordinating reception arrangements along key approach routes to Shirdi, including the Nashik–Sinnar road, where officials welcomed some of the early palkhi groups arriving on foot.
SSST Chief Executive Officer Gorakh Gadilkar and Deputy Chief Executive Officer Bhimraj Darade also interacted with devotees during the processions and reviewed arrangements being made for their stay and movement.
As part of the traditional welcome, officials also joined the procession briefly, walking alongside devotees to mark the occasion. Temple authorities said such gestures are intended to maintain the spiritual connection between the administration and visiting devotees.
Ram Navami remains one of the important annual festivals observed at Shirdi, attracting pilgrims from different parts of the country. Apart from the foot processions, the town is expected to witness increased footfall during the festival period with special prayers and religious programmes.
Authorities said arrangements relating to crowd management, accommodation and basic facilities are being coordinated in view of the expected rise in pilgrim numbers.
For many devotees, however, the most important aspect remains the journey itself, which they see as an expression of faith and devotion rather than a physical challenge.
