Shirdi (Maharashtra)/UNI: A bandh was observed at Shirdi in Ahmednagar district in Maharasthra on Sunday, following a controversy over the birthplace of 19th-century saint 'Sai Baba'.
The bandh began in the temple town at midnight and shops, eateries, various other commercial establishments and local transport were shut and streets were empty.
In front of 'Dwarkamai' a Sadbhava Parikrama rally was organised on Sunday by the villagers which started by aarti, Shirdi Mazhe Pandharpur (Shirdi My Pandharpur) and large number of locals participated in it.
However, the Sai Baba temple remained open with devotees being allowed to offer prayers, officials of the temple trust and Ahmednagar district administration said.
The 'prasadalaya' and the temple kitchen were also open to ensure devotees were not inconvenienced, they said.
Long queues of devotees were seen in front of the 'prasadalaya', breakfast centre and 'laddoo' sale centres of the temple, sources said.
Local residents and leaders in Shirdi are seeking that the state Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray must withdraw his official statement, where he described Pathri in Parbhani district as Sai Baba's birthplace and announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at "Sai Janmasthan" (birthplace) at Pathri.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting over the issue at the state secretariat in Mumbai on Monday.
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