Shirdi: The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST), which manages the Saibaba temple in Shirdi, has increased the rates of darshan and aarti for VIPs, an official of the Trust said today.
Bajirao Shinde, Executive Officer of SSST said, "We have increased the darshan and aarti rates for VIPs who visit the Saibaba temple, with a view to facilitate common people."
"Rate of VIP darshan pass has been doubled from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per head, early morning aarti (kakad) VIP pass rate has been increased to Rs 600 per head from Rs 500. The rate for afternoon aarti for VIPs has also been hiked from Rs 300 to Rs 400," Shinde said in a press release.
The new rates would be effective from March 1, the release said.
Common people, who queue up for darshan or aarti would not be charged, and they would get free prasad (sweetmeat offering made to God), it said.
The SSST has decided to set up pass-selling counters in 'Bhakta Niwas' from March 1, it said.
