Shopping in Shirdi

One of most important pilgrimage centers of the country, Shirdi is frequented by thousands of devotees almost daily. A devout worshipper will also be the happiest shopper as Shirdi has markets with the largest collection of Sai Baba effigies and pictures. Rows of shops line up the streets that lead to the temple serving as great places to also shop for gifts. Starting from marble and fiber statues, one can find laminated portraits, key rings, rosaries, garlands made with fresh flowers and with plastic/cloth flowers, all kinds of dry fruits, etc.

Apart from the statues, devotees can also shop from an extensive collection of religious books about the life of Sai Baba and his philosophies. Available in English and other vernacular languages, these books can be sanctified by following a ritual too. In the garment shopping department, Shirdi is unlike other cities. Being a religious site, it has many shops selling shawls to be used as offering in Baba's Temple or even as headband during meditation.

Shops sell a wide variety of sweets from laddoos to pedas which are mostly dry in nature and hence can be preserved longer. The Sai Complex Mall is at a walking distance from the temple for shoppers not into religious shopping. However, it is to be noted that the mall is still in its development phase.