Fixed prices for Shani Puja plate at Shanishinganapur

Measure to stop financial loot of devotees
Relevant boards affixed; sale of puja material still at higher rates

Sonai – Only oil and rui (crown flower) leaves garland are allowed to be offered to Deity Shri Shani at Shanishingnapur Temple. However, the Revenue Department has put up price lists of puja material plates from Rs 151 to Rs 701 at all the parking lots in the village. These lists are confusing the devotees and they are being cheated. Earlier, puja plates were available in village shops for Rs 51 and Rs 101. Allegedly, the devotees of Deity Shri Shani are being financially robbed due to the new price lists.

1. Last week, Commissioner Dr Gedam visited the temple to perform puja as an ordinary devotee. He was forced to buy a puja material plate worth Rs 1,100. After that, he immediately held a meeting and ordered to fix the puja prices and put up boards accordingly.

2. Divisional Officer Vinayak Gore said, “The price list for puja materials has been put up by the employees. The price of puja materials has been fixed by the vendors. The price of oil is not included. We are only implementing the order.”

3. While Deity Shani is to be offered only oil and garland of rui leaves, the amount of the plate is increased by adding items like Yantra, paduka, black cloth, coconut, naal, black doll, sacred thread, etc. to the plate. Devotees have also complained that these items are being used repeatedly.

4. Ahilyanagar District officer Sudhir Patil said, “Since the amount of the puja material and the items in it are fixed, there will be no financial loot of the devotees. Everyone has agreed to keep the parking facility free of cost. If anyone charges money for the same, action will be taken.”

5. Illegal transport of passengers is happening on the Shirdi-Shingnapur route. At the shops where these vehicles stop, passengers are forced to buy tea, breakfast and puja material, said Rameshwar Chinchole, a devotee from Mumbai.