Chavadi Procession Shirdi
The Thursday palki ritual that carries Sai Baba’s padukas through the streets of Shirdi
The Chavadi procession in Shirdi is one of the most moving weekly rituals in the entire pilgrim circuit of Maharashtra. Every Thursday evening — the day most sacred to Sai Baba — a flower-decked palki carrying his padukas, photograph and silver utsav-murti is carried in slow procession from the Samadhi Mandir to a small wada called the Chavadi, recreating a tradition Baba himself observed during his lifetime. If you can plan your Shirdi yatra to fall on a Thursday night, this is the single most atmospheric experience the town has to offer.
What is the Chavadi?
The Chavadi is a modest village community-house, barely two rooms wide, located a short walk from the Samadhi Mandir along the main Shirdi temple lane. In Sai Baba’s later years he began sleeping at the Chavadi on alternate nights — one night at Dwarkamai, the next night at Chavadi — and devotees, unwilling to let him walk alone, began escorting him each evening with lamps, music and chants. After Baba took mahasamadhi in 1918, the procession continued in his honour, with his padukas and photograph taking his place inside the palki.
Today the Chavadi still has the original wooden cot Sai Baba used, his ceremonial seat, and a portrait that is bathed, draped and worshipped exactly as he was a century ago. The room is small, quiet and intensely personal — completely different in mood from the grand marble of the Samadhi Mandir.
The Thursday procession — minute by minute
Evening preparations (7:00 – 8:30 PM)
The Sansthan staff and sevadars decorate the silver palki with fresh marigold and rose garlands. A pair of polished padukas, a velvet-draped photograph and a small silver staff (satka) are placed inside. Devotees begin gathering along the lane.
Dhoop Aarti & departure (9:00 – 9:15 PM)
After the Shej (night) Aarti is sung inside the Samadhi Mandir, the palki is lifted by sevadars. A traditional brass band — clarinet, dhol, trumpet — strikes up bhajans and the procession steps out under the portico.
Walk to Chavadi (9:15 – 9:45 PM)
The palki moves at a deliberately slow pace. Petals are showered from rooftops, conch shells are blown, and the crowd takes up “Sai Ram, Sai Ram” in continuous chorus. The route is barely 250 metres but takes nearly half an hour because every few steps the bearers pause for arti at small wayside shrines.
Pothi & rituals inside Chavadi (9:45 – 10:30 PM)
At the Chavadi the padukas are placed on Baba’s cot. A short pothi (reading from the Sai Satcharitra), Naivedya, abhishek and Chavadi Aarti are performed inside the small room while devotees crowd the courtyard outside.
Return to Samadhi Mandir (~11:00 PM)
The palki is carried back along the same route, this time with quieter chanting, and the padukas are reinstated near Sai Baba’s samadhi for the night.
Why Thursday is special for Sai devotees
Among devotees, Thursday — Guruvar — is regarded as Sai Baba’s own day, since he is revered as Sadguru. Many devotees worldwide observe a Thursday vrat, light a lamp, read a chapter of the Sai Satcharitra, and donate food. In Shirdi, the entire town tilts in rhythm with this belief: queues are longer, aartis are more crowded, garland sellers stay open later, and the climax of the day is the Chavadi procession. Even devotees who cannot reach Shirdi often follow the live telecast on the Sansthan’s YouTube channel at 9:15 PM IST on Thursdays.
Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his sufferings will come to an end.
Planning your Thursday visit
If you are travelling specifically for the Chavadi procession, schedule things so you reach Shirdi by Thursday afternoon. Take an unhurried darshan at the Samadhi Mandir before 6 PM, eat at the Prasadalay early, then walk down to the Chavadi lane by 8:30 PM. After the procession returns around 11 PM, the Samadhi Mandir remains open for the night Aarti viewing. Booking accommodation as early as possible is essential — Bhakt Niwas and private hotels fill quickly for Thursday nights, especially during festival weeks. See our Shirdi accommodation guide for the cleanest options near the temple.
If you are arriving from Mumbai or Pune by overnight bus, time your departure for Wednesday night so you reach Shirdi early Thursday. The how to reach Shirdi page lists train, bus and flight options. For a smoother experience, prebook a VIP darshan pass for Thursday morning so the long evening is reserved entirely for the procession.
Etiquette during the procession
- Stand on the side of the lane, not in the centre — the palki bearers need a clear path.
- Do not push toward the padukas. Most regulars simply close their eyes, fold their hands and let the palki pass.
- Carry your own small torch; the route is lit but some stretches are dim.
- Do not light flame diyas in your hand inside the crowd. Use the wayside lamps.
- Switch your phone to silent. Live-streaming is allowed but obstructing others to film is poor form.
- Elderly or wheelchair-using devotees can ask Sansthan volunteers for assistance — there is reserved standing space near the Chavadi entrance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the Chavadi procession start in Shirdi?
The palki departs from Samadhi Mandir at approximately 9:15 PM every Thursday, immediately after the Shej Aarti. Arrive by 8:30 PM if you want a good vantage point near the Chavadi.
Is the Chavadi procession held on other days too?
Regularly only on Thursdays. Additionally it is performed on Datta Jayanti, on the eve of Guru Purnima and during Ram Navami nights as part of the festival sequence.
Do I need a ticket or pass for the Chavadi procession?
No. The procession is entirely free, open to all devotees, and you simply join the crowd along the route. Only the inside seated viewing of the Chavadi pothi is space-limited.
Can I take photographs of the palki?
Yes, you may photograph the procession along the road from the public lane. Flash photography is discouraged, and all photography inside the Samadhi Mandir and inside the Chavadi room itself is banned.
Where exactly is the Chavadi located in Shirdi?
The Chavadi is a small two-room wada about 250 metres from Samadhi Mandir, along the main temple lane that also leads past Dwarkamai. Local volunteers can direct you any time.
How long does the entire Chavadi procession last?
From the palki leaving the Samadhi Mandir to its return is roughly two hours — about thirty minutes each way, with around an hour of pothi, abhishek and Chavadi Aarti inside the wada.
Can children and elderly devotees join?
Yes, all ages join. Elderly devotees should stand at the Chavadi end of the route rather than walking with the palki. Sansthan sevadars assist wheelchair users on request.