Shree Guru Pournima Festival
Event Overview
Shree Guru Pournima Festival is a three-day spiritual celebration held at the Shri Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir in Shirdi. The official Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust schedule confirms that the 2026 festival begins on 28 July, observes its main day on 29 July, and concludes on 30 July.
Guru Pournima is one of the three principal annual festivals celebrated in Shirdi. The temple programme traditionally combines worship, devotional music, public readings of sacred texts and ceremonial processions involving Sai Baba’s portrait, holy book and musical symbols.
Three-day festival structure:
28 July — Opening Day: Ceremonial opening, Padaypuja and procession of Sai Baba’s portrait, sacred Pothi and veena.
29 July — Main Guru Pournima Day: Principal darshan, aarti, devotional readings, bhajans and prayers honouring Sai Baba as a spiritual guide.
30 July — Conclusion Day: Final worship, thanksgiving prayers and conclusion of the festival programme.
The opening-day procession includes Sai Baba’s portrait, the sacred book or Pothi and a veena, accompanied by temple priests, residents of Shirdi and large numbers of devotees. The official trust also reported heavy pilgrim attendance for Sai Baba’s darshan on the first day of the 2026 celebration.
Important pilgrim activities include:
Darshan at Shri Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir
Attending Kakad Aarti in the early morning
Participating in midday, evening and Shej Aarti
Offering flowers, shawls and prayers at the Samadhi
Participating in Padaypuja
Joining the portrait, Pothi and veena procession
Reading or listening to Shri Sai Satcharita
Attending bhajans and devotional music programmes
Visiting Dwarkamai and Chavadi
Receiving prasad and meals at the Prasadalaya
Participating in seva and charitable activities
Meditating on Sai Baba’s teachings
The temple’s regular daily programme begins with the temple opening at 4:45 AM, followed by Bhupali, Kakad Aarti and morning darshan. Guru Pournima festival arrangements may extend or modify ordinary timings, so pilgrims should follow the official trust’s on-site instructions.
Visitors should expect substantial crowds throughout the three days, particularly on the main Guru Pournima day. Darshan, accommodation and other official services should be booked only through authorised Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust channels, as the Trust has warned devotees about fake booking and donation websites.
Cultural & Spiritual Significance
Guru Pournima is dedicated to honouring the spiritual teacher or guru who guides devotees from ignorance towards wisdom, discipline and inner awareness. In Shirdi, Sai Baba is revered by millions as a Sadguru whose teachings emphasised faith, patience, compassion, equality and service.
The festival represents:
Guru devotion: Expressing gratitude to the spiritual guide.
Faith and patience: Remembering Sai Baba’s principles of Shraddha and Saburi.
Sacred learning: Reading and listening to spiritual texts such as Shri Sai Satcharita.
Selfless service: Helping pilgrims and supporting charitable activities.
Religious unity: Sai Baba’s teaching that the same divine reality is worshipped through different traditions.
Community participation: Bringing devotees, priests and local residents together through worship and processions.
Spiritual renewal: Encouraging prayer, self-reflection and moral discipline.
The procession of Sai Baba’s portrait, Pothi and veena symbolically unites the guru’s presence, sacred teaching and devotional music. Padaypuja expresses reverence for the spiritual master’s feet, which traditionally represent surrender, guidance and the path towards liberation.
The festival also reflects Sai Baba’s universal message, often summarised through the principle “Sabka Malik Ek”, meaning that the divine master is one. The Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust identifies this teaching, along with love, service and humanity, as central to its spiritual and charitable work.
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