Lets explore Shirdi-Vijayadashami

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VIJAYADASHAMI

In 1918 Ashwini Maas (Sept. - Oct.) it was the first day of Dakshinayan

(southerly declination of the sun) on Vijayadashami Baba took Mahasamadhi at

02.35 PM. But at 12.30 in the afternoon of that day Dashami was over and

Ekadashi had begun. In the Muslim month of Moharram it was the ninth day of

the ninth month and that night was the 'night of slaughter'.

Four months before Baba's Mahasamadhi He sent Imam Bhai Chota Khan and Kasim

(son of Bade Baba) to go to Shamshuddin Mea of Aurangabad. Baba said "Give

him (his Rs.250/-. Do there Moulu, Koali and Nyas ".

Then they were asked to go to Banne Mea Fakir and garland him and tell him

"Navddin, Nav tarik, Allah meane apna dhunia legaya marjiAllaki" (Ref. DE,

p.277).

The festivities at Shirdi are celebrated on Vijayadashami.

First Day: Akhand Parayan

Rath procession through the village. Dwarakamai is open

throughout the whole night

Second Day: Biksha: A day before names of the devotees participating in the

Biksha are taken by lottery. The devotees assemble in the Samadhi Mandir at

08.00 AM. They are garlanded and gheru jholies are given to them. They are

brought in procession to Dwarakamai. After Lalkari they are taken to the

five houses that Baba took Biksha from. On the way they accept Biksha from

the devotees in return giving some of the contents from their jolies as

Baba's prasad.

Semolanghan: At about 04.00 PM

procession throughout the village. Bhajans by devotees the whole night.

Samadhi Mandir is open the whole night.

Third Day: No Kakad Arati Gopal Kala.

(Adopted from Ambrosia In Shirdi by Dr.Vinny Chitluri, this book can be read

at http://saileelas.org/books/ambrosiainshirdi1.htm and this book is a

virtual guide on Shirdi with

lots of rare photos on Baba. This book can be purchased from Dr.Vinny

Chitluri 304, Bhagchand Apartments Pimpalwadi Road Shird, District

Ahmednagar, Maharastra India Pin-423 109 Phone : 91-02423 - 255835, cost

INR.70)