Shirdi Bandh: Amid Row Over Saibaba Birthplace, Temple To Remain Open Today

A call has been given for indefinite closure of Shirdi after Thackeray's reported comment terming Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace.

A top temple management official said the Shirdi Saibaba Temple will remain open today and all facilities will continue as usual. (PTI)

Shirdi: In the wake of state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's decision to develop Pathri town in Parbhani district as Sai Baba's birthplace, the world-famous Shirdi townsfolk have threatened a shutdown of the city from Sunday onwards. However, dismissing rumours about the temple also being closed amid the row, a top temple management official said the Shirdi Saibaba Temple will remain open today and all facilities will continue as usual. Deepak Madukar Muglikar, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, has said that Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi will remain open on Sunday and will not be impacted by the closure of the city. "There are some reports in media that Sai Temple in Shirdi will remain closed on January 19. I want to clarify that it is just a rumor. Temple will remain open on January 19," Muglikar said. "Devotees will not face any difficulty if they come to Shirdi," said B Wakchaure, member of Saibaba Sansthan Trust. A controversy has erupted over the purported birthplace of the revered saint, Shri Saibaba, 102 years after he took 'samadhi' here. A call has been given for indefinite closure of Shirdi after Thackeray's reported comment terming Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace. About two dozen villages around Shirdi are expected to join the bandh, which may be extended until the government considers their demands, according to one of the organisers. Watch | Shirdi Sai Baba temple will remain open on Jan 19: CEO Temple Trust Thackeray has recently announced that Pathri will be developed as the birthplace of Sai Baba for religious tourism and also took a review meeting of the development plans in Parbhani district. One of the most popular religious destinations in the country, Saibaba Temple in Shirdi witnesses lakh of devotees visiting the holy site every year. (with inputs from agencies)