Skip to main content

Featured Post

The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.

Shirdi Temple Update - Speedy Darshan

I have been fortunate to have been able to visit Shirdi plenty of times. You can read about my experiences at

http://anushankarn.blogspot.com/2008/09/quick-trip-to-shirdi-and-shani.html

http://anushankarn.blogspot.com/2008/03/quick-trip-to-shirdi-and-shani.html

http://anushankarn.blogspot.com/2007/12/trip-on-diwali-from-shirdi-to-bordi.html

I will therefore not waste more words talking about the temple and my experiences.

This post is meant to be an update on the speedy darshan facility recently started at Shirdi during crowded weekends.

The temple authorities have opened a paid darshan facility during the weekends, to cope with the huge crowds at that time. To avail of these passes, one has to approach the guards at Gate No.1. They will direct you to the person issuing the passes. a limited number of passes are available each day, starting at 7AM, and the rates are as follows:


Only darshan : Rs. 100 per person
All aartis except kakad aarti: Rs. 200 per person
Kakad Aarti: Rs. 300 per person.
The passes for the Kakad aarti have to be collected the previous night.


Passes are issued only in person, and can not be collected for others. Some proof of ID is required, such as PAN card, Election ID, Driving license, etc. 

Ours was, as usual, a hurried trip, and we attended the Kakad aarti standing in the queue, since we had no time to enquire about these passes. However, I was able to find out the required information for my father-in-law, who was able to buy a pass and had darshan in just a few minutes! So, please do use this information and have a wonderful darshan at Shirdi!

Comments

  1. Thanks for the kind information. It will be very useful to pilgrims who visit the holy place for the first time

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for sharing the info Anu. I will pass it on to my relatives who visit there and will be useful for me too

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the info.this is one temple i would like to visit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the info.this is one temple i would like to visit.

    ReplyDelete
  5. hi,this is ajay,

    i read your blog and i like it very much..
    thanks for posrting such a wonderful aarati...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am planning to visit shirdi temple for darshan of shree sai baba. For this I have booked shirdi tour package. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  7. You can book Room, Darshan, Aarathi via internet. This can be done even two days before. I had done recently. Dec 13. You have to registere your self with them

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please leave a comment for me so that I will know you have been here....

Popular posts from this blog

Gokarna Part II – The Five Lingams

We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw

The Power of 8 - The Ashta Dikpalas and Ashta Vasus at Khajuraho

The four cardinal directions form the axis on which a temple is built, and are thus the basis of temple architecture. Leading from them are the eight directions, which are believed to be guarded by the eight guardians, or Ashta Dikpalas . In the temples of Khajuraho, great care has been taken by the sculptors to carve the Ashta Dikpalas on the walls, both inside and outside. They not only guard the temple, but also look over us as we circumambulate the shrine, protecting us by their presence. They are augmented by the Ashta Vasus , celestial beings which represent natural phenomena. Together, they enhance the idea of the temple as cosmos, enfolding within it, all the aspects of nature, both, on earth, as well in space.

The Havelis of Bikaner - A Photo Post

The lanes are narrow , twisting and turning amidst buildings old and new. Crumbling old structures with intricate workmanship stand side by side with art deco buildings, and more modern constructions, which follow no particular style. Autos, bicycles, motorcycles and vans rush past, blowing their horns as loudly as possible, while cows saunter past peacefully, completely unaffected by the noise. In the midst of all this chaos, children play by the side, and women go about their chores, as we explore these by-lanes of Bikaner, and its beautiful Havelis. Facade of one of the Rampuria Havelis