Maharashtra: Devotees flock to Shirdi's Sai Baba Temple on 'Vijaya Dashmi'

On the occasion of 'Vijaya Dashmi' or 'Dussehra', devotees flocked to Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra's Shirdi. As the priests performed 'Pooja', devotees chanted 'Sai Baba ki Jai' with enthusiasm.

On the occasion of 'Vijaya Dashmi' or 'Dussehra', devotees flocked to Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra's Shirdi. As the priests performed 'Pooja', devotees chanted 'Sai Baba ki Jai' with enthusiasm.

Shirdi is deemed to be the home of the famous spiritual leader, Sai Baba. It is one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites for the Hindus. Every day, devotees in large numbers throng the temple and queue up to get a glimpse of 'Sai Baba'. The country is celebrating Dussehra today, marking the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana. However, there is a unique temple in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur that worships Ravana for his 'intellect'.

Kanpur's Dashanan Temple holds the belief that Ravana was an intellectual priest. However, he lost to Lord Rama due to his arrogance. Earlier today, the Dashanan temple was opened for devotees to worship Ravana on the occasion of Dussehra.

"We open this temple today and worship Ravana today on the day of Dussehra and then in the evening after burning the effigy we close this temple. It only opens on the day of Dussehra...We worship him for his knowledge..." said Dashanan temple purohit Ram Bajpai. 'Dussehra' or 'Vijaya Dashmi' is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil.

It also marks the culmination of the nine-day-long Navratri festival. It is observed on the tenth day of the month of Ashvin, the seventh in the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar. The festival typically falls in the Gregorian calendar months of September and October.

The festival also starts the preparations for Diwali, the important festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after Vijayadashami. (ANI)

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