How to book an aarti pass for Shirdi
The official process for obtaining a Kakad, Madhyan, Dhoop or Shej aarti pass through the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust.
This page is a practical how-to guide for Shirdi aarti booking online — the system by which the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust releases a limited number of passes per aarti, per day, to devotees who wish to sit inside the sanctum during a specific aarti. The actual booking is done exclusively on the Trust’s own portal. We are an independent pilgrim portal — we do not sell passes and do not act as intermediaries. For all live booking, use the official site sai.org.in.
What an aarti pass actually gets you
A regular darshan pilgrim at Shirdi can attend any of the four aartis simply by joining the free queue at the right time. What you see and hear is the same. The difference an aarti pass makes is where you sit. Pass holders are admitted through a separate entrance about 45 minutes before the aarti, walk barefoot into the inner Sabha Mandap and are seated cross-legged on the carpeted area within a few feet of the silver railing. From there you can see the priests perform the abhishek and the aarti wave from start to finish.
The pass is therefore not a “skip queue” ticket for ordinary darshan — it is a ceremonial seat for one specific aarti. If you wish to skip the regular darshan queue separately, consider the VIP darshan pass or the free Sulabh Darshan token, both explained on our darshan guide.
Which aarti passes are available
Kakad Aarti pass
The morning wake-up aarti. Reach the temple complex by 3:45 AM with your pass and photo ID. Cold mornings — carry a shawl in winter.
Read GuideMadhyan Aarti pass
The noon aarti. Most demanded pass — especially on Thursdays. Includes the naivedya offering. Reach by 11 AM.
Read GuideDhoop Aarti pass
The most atmospheric. Reach 45 minutes before sunset. Time changes daily through the year.
Read GuideShej Aarti pass
The closing aarti of the day. Reach by 9:30 PM. Quietest crowd; ideal for first-time devotees who want a contemplative experience.
Read GuideThe booking process — step by step
Create an account on the Sansthan portal
Visit [sai.org.in](https://sai.org.in/) and register an account using your mobile number and email. Verify both. You will use this account for all future bookings.
Select the aarti and date
Navigate to the online booking section, choose the aarti (Kakad, Madhyan, Dhoop or Shej) and the date you wish to attend. The booking window typically opens several weeks before the date.
Add devotee details
Enter the full name and a valid photo identity document number for each person. The name and ID must match the actual document carried at the gate.
Pay the fee
Pay the prescribed donation amount through the available online payment channels (UPI, credit card, debit card, net banking). A confirmation is sent to your registered email and mobile.
Download or print the pass
The pass arrives as a PDF or appears in your account. Print it or save a clear screenshot. Carry both the pass and the matching photo ID to the temple.
Reach the dedicated entrance
On the day of the aarti, reach the dedicated aarti pass entrance at the queue complex. Security checks your pass, verifies your photo ID against the booking and admits you 30 to 45 minutes before the aarti begins.
Fees and donation amounts
The Sansthan periodically revises the aarti pass donation amounts, so we deliberately do not quote a fixed figure here. The current rates are always displayed on the booking page itself before you confirm payment. Historically the amounts are nominal compared to the value of the experience — a small donation in support of the Trust’s pilgrim welfare, prasadalaya and rural medical work. Once you complete payment, the entire amount goes to the official Trust account; no separate “convenience fee” is required, and no agent is involved.
Important warning — if a website, WhatsApp contact or hotel agent quotes you a much higher figure claiming to “guarantee” an aarti pass, it is unauthorised. The Trust does not appoint third-party booking agents. All legitimate channels are listed on our online booking services page.
When booking opens and how fast it fills
The Sansthan typically opens online bookings for aarti passes several weeks in advance — the exact window varies. Bookings for festival days (Ram Navami, Guru Purnima, Sai Punyatithi, Datta Jayanti — see our 2026 festival calendar) tend to fill within hours of the booking window opening. Bookings for normal Thursdays fill within a day or two. Bookings for ordinary weekdays often remain available right up to the day before. If you have flexibility in dates, target a Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday for the easiest pass availability.
To improve your chances of obtaining a Thursday or festival pass, log into your Trust account on the day the window opens and have your photo ID details ready in advance.
Identity proof — what counts
The ID details entered during booking must exactly match the document carried on the day. Mismatches — wrong spelling, expired ID, mismatched photo — are the single most common reason for passes being rejected at the gate. Double-check before you confirm the booking.
Cancellation and refund
The Sansthan publishes its current cancellation policy on the booking page. In general, partial refunds are processed for cancellations made well in advance, while last-minute cancellations and no-shows are typically non-refundable. If you cannot use your pass, do not transfer it to another person — passes are non-transferable, and the gate verifies the photo ID against the name on the pass. Misuse can lead to entry being denied and the account being suspended.
Aarti pass vs VIP darshan pass — what is the difference
This is the most common confusion among new pilgrims.
An aarti pass gives you ceremonial seating inside the sanctum during a specific aarti — about 45 minutes including pre-aarti seating time. It does not let you have private murti darshan outside the aarti.
A VIP darshan pass is a faster queue for regular darshan — shorter wait, quicker passage past the murti — but does not seat you for an aarti. The two passes serve different purposes and can be combined if you have time. Most pilgrims pick one based on whether their priority is a quick darshan or a contemplative aarti experience. Read more on our VIP darshan page.
If passes are sold out — three legitimate alternatives
If the aarti pass you want is sold out, three completely legitimate alternatives are available:
Free aarti from the hall
Join the regular queue 90 minutes before the aarti. You will be inside the Sabha Mandap during the aarti, hearing and seeing it through the live feed and over the heads of the seated pass holders. The experience is meaningful and entirely free.
Read GuideWatch the live broadcast
The Sansthan broadcasts every aarti live on its YouTube channel and on the temple’s in-room television feeds at all official Bhakta Niwas accommodations.
Read GuideTry a different aarti or date
Kakad and Shej passes are usually easier to obtain than Madhyan and Dhoop. A Tuesday or Friday is far easier than a Thursday. A January morning is far easier than a Ram Navami day.
Read GuideOther Trust booking services
The same Sansthan online portal also handles bookings for:
- Bhakta Niwas accommodation — rooms at New Bhakta Niwas, Sai Ashram and Dwarawati, up to 90 days in advance
- Donation receipts, dakshina, hundi receipts
- Annadanam contributions and Mahaprasad sponsorship
- Online prasad delivery to your home address
- Festival event passes — Ram Navami palki, Punyatithi pradakshina, Guru Purnima paada puja
For a consolidated guide to every service, see our online booking services page.
What to do on the day
Carry pass + matching ID
Print or screenshot the pass. Carry the original photo ID document — laminated photocopies and digital ID copies are sometimes refused.
Reach 45 minutes early
Lines at the pass entrance form well in advance. Reach 45 minutes before aarti time for stress-free entry.
Deposit phones and shoes
Same rules as regular darshan — no phones, cameras or large bags inside. Free lockers are available.
Sit, sing, observe
The volunteers will indicate where to sit. Sing along if you know the aarti. Maintain silence between songs. Photography of the aarti is strictly forbidden — let your eyes do the recording.
One last word
The aarti at Shirdi is not a performance. It is a conversation between the Sadguru and his devotees that has continued without a single day’s interruption since 1909. The pass you obtain is not a ticket — it is permission to sit inside that conversation. Wear modest clothes, leave your phone behind, sing what you know, listen to what you do not, and let the songs that Sai Baba once allowed Madhav Adkar and Krishnaji Jogalekar to write for him work on your heart for thirty minutes. Whatever wait, whatever fee, whatever paperwork — it is worth it.
For everything else about Shirdi, browse our darshan guide, about Sai Baba, aarti schedule and how to reach Shirdi pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a Shirdi aarti pass online?
Aarti passes are booked exclusively through the official Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust portal at sai.org.in. Register an account, choose the aarti and date, enter devotee names and photo ID details, pay the donation amount online and download the PDF pass. The same pass plus matching photo ID is presented at the gate.
How early does Shirdi aarti booking open?
The Trust typically opens the online booking window several weeks before each date. Exact windows vary across the year. Festival-day passes (Ram Navami, Guru Purnima, Sai Punyatithi, Datta Jayanti) fill within hours of opening. Normal Thursday passes fill in one to two days. Weekday passes often remain available until the day before.
How much does a Shirdi aarti pass cost?
The Sansthan periodically revises aarti pass donation amounts and displays the current rate on the booking page itself. The amounts are nominal donations supporting Trust welfare activities. Beware of agents quoting much higher figures — no authorised intermediary exists for aarti passes.
Which aarti pass is the most popular at Shirdi?
The Madhyan Aarti pass at 12:00 PM is the most in-demand because it includes the naivedya offering and falls in the middle of the typical pilgrim day. Dhoop Aarti at sunset is second most popular for its atmosphere. Kakad and Shej passes are usually easier to obtain.
Can I transfer my aarti pass to another person?
No. Aarti passes are strictly non-transferable. The photo ID and devotee name printed on the pass must match the original document presented at the gate. Misuse can result in the pass being cancelled at entry and the booking account being suspended for future bookings.
What if my Shirdi aarti pass booking is sold out?
You can still attend the aarti free of charge by joining the regular queue 90 minutes before the aarti time — you will be inside the Sabha Mandap during the ceremony. Alternatively, the Sansthan broadcasts every aarti live on YouTube, and pilgrims with date flexibility can target a quieter weekday.
Is the Sansthan aarti booking website the only authorised channel?
Yes. The official portal at sai.org.in is the only authorised channel for aarti pass bookings. The Trust does not appoint third-party agents, travel companies or websites to sell aarti passes on its behalf. Any external website or agent claiming to guarantee passes for a fee is unauthorised.
Can foreign nationals book a Shirdi aarti pass online?
Yes. Foreign nationals can book aarti passes through the same Sansthan portal by entering their passport number as the photo ID. The passport must be carried on the day of the aarti for verification at the gate. International payment cards are accepted on the booking page.