Nashik: The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi has banned flower bouquets as offerings for the deity, though flowers will still be allowed inside the temple.
The decision has been taken to avoid harassment of devotees by flower vendors, especially children selling flowers, and has evoked strong reactions from people.
Shirdi is a major producer of flowers, some of which are also exported so the ban is likely to impact the district. However, there was no official confirmation of the decision and the Sansthan CEO was unavailable for comment.
But Shirdi Municipal council president and Shirdi Sansthan trustee, Ms Yogita Abhay Shelke said on Friday that flower sellers used to pester devotees to buy flowers and the temple complex was always strewn with flowers. Hence, the decision was taken. Meanwhile, thousand who depend on the flower trade for their livelihood, beginning from farmers to flower sellers, are angry at this move. Social activist Sanjay Bhaskarrao Kale said that the temple has a 100-year tradition of offering flowers.
“Due to this tradition, the farmers from surrounding areas started growing flowers. As the popularity of the temple grew, so did the business. The decision is anti-tradition and anti-farmer as well,” he said.
