Western malpractice of celebrating Shri Shanidev’s Jayanti by cake cutting stopped

‘Shri Shanaishchar Devasthan’ accepts Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’s request

Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh delegation

Shani Shingnapur – For the past 3-4 years, some devotees were celebrating Shri Shanidev’s Jayanti by cake cutting in western style at the active (jagrut) ‘Shri Shanaishchar’ Devasthan in Shreekshetra Shani Shingnapur. To prevent the repetition of this unscriptural event on Shri Shanaishchar Jayanti i.e., Vaishakh Amavasya, 19th May, the delegation of ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’ met Nitin Shete, CEO of Shri Shanaishchar Devasthan and appealed to prevent this type of incident. He gave a positive response to it and stopped this western malpractice. Mr Sunil Ghanwat, Coordinator of ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’ thanked Shri Shanaishchar Devasthan for the prompt action. Mr Ghanwat also appealed that care should be taken to ensure that there is no hindrance to the Devasthan’s sanctity in future.

“Cutting cake on Deity’s Jayanti is against Dharma-shastra. There is no mention of such a practice even in the history of Shri Shanaishchar Devasthan. The people cutting cake on the occasion of Jayanti in the temple premises may also organise dance programmes like in the West in future. A temple is not for fun, but to gain spiritual benefits by worshiping the Deity according to the scriptures. Temples are the cornerstone of Dharma. Therefore, it is every Hindu devotee’s Dharma(duty) to keep their sanctity intact. Therefore, all the temples and trusts in the state should take care that such incidents which harm Dharma do not happen in the temple premises”, appealed Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh.