Sai Satcharitra - Ovi to Ovi english Translation - Chp- VI

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46. He had no children. Later with Sai’s blessings he begot a son. His mind

was thus happy.

 

47. So Gopal Gund thought of holding a Yatra or an Urus5 yearly in the

Shirdi village. Everybody would be joyous.

 

48. Tatya Kote, Dada Kote, Madhavrao and other leading devotees approved of

this idea and began to make preparations.

 

49. But for such annual festivals, there was a certain regulation. The

permission of the District Officer was required.

 

50. When efforts were made to secure the permission, a perverse Kulkarni6

from the village went against them and put obstacles in the way.

 

51. When the Kulkarni came in the way, look what was the result. The

District Officer issued an order that the yatra should not be held at

Shirdi.

 

52. But to hold this yatra in Shirdi was also Baba’s wish and he had

commanded them to fulfil this along with his blessings.

 

53. The villagers persevered and tried their utmost. The authorities changed

the earlier order and honoured the wishes of the people.

 

54. Since then, according to Baba’s wish, the yatra takes place on

Ramnavami. Tatya Kote looks after the arrangements and a large crowd

gathers.

 

55. On Ramnavami day, devotional singing and worship take place to the

accompaniment of drums and other wind instruments. People flock there from

all four quarters in large numbers.

 

56. Every year, two new flags are ceremoniously carried in procession and

tied to the dome of the Masjid and permanently fixed there.

 

57. Out of the two, one would be Nimonkar’s7 and the other, Damu Anna’s8.

They are taken with pomp in procession and they fly high on the top of the

dome.

 

58. Now listen to the interesting account of how the celebration of

Ramnavami originated from the Urus, which is unusual – the pleasure and

glory of Shirdi!

 

59. Originating from the Urus, Ramnavami was celebrated for the first time

in ‘Shake’ 18339; and, since then, it continues uninterruptedly to be held

to this day.

 

60. The famous Krishna Jogeshwar Bhishma10 was the originator of the idea of

celebrating the birth of Ram, which he thought would be greatly beneficial

for all.

 

61. Till then, it was only the Urus for which the people participated. Since

that year, the beautiful festival of the birth of Ram took place.