Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Center Reading

26/03/2026

26/12/2025

🕉️ Om Sai Ram

Dear Sai Devotees,

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Association of London (SH*TAL) warmly invites you and your family to join us in seeking Baba’s divine blessings as we welcome the New Year 2026 at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Centre, Reading.

We look forward to your gracious presence on this auspicious occasion. May Baba shower His blessings upon all.

🌸 New Year Celebration Schedule

Wednesday, 31st December 2025

08:00 AM – Temple Opens
08:45 AM – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur Aarti
12:00 PM – Mid-Day Aarti (Madhyan Aarti)
07:00 PM – Evening Aarti (Dhoop Aarti)
11:45 PM – Sai Dhuni
12:00 AM – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur Aarti

Thursday, 1st January 2026

08:00 AM – Temple Opens
08:45 AM – Chota Aarti
10:00 AM – Baba Abhishekam
12:00 PM – Mid-Day Aarti (Madhyan Aarti)
07:00 PM – Evening Aarti (Dhoop Aarti)
08:00 PM – Baba Palkhi Seva
09:00 PM – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur Aarti
09:30 PM – Temple Closes

Kind Regards,
SH*TAL Reading Team
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Association of London

📍 Reading
📞 0118 959 1084

🙏 Baba Malik 🙏

02/10/2025

Om Sairam

Dear Devotees,

Shirdi Saibaba Temple and Community Centre, Reading, wishes you all a very Happy Dussehra 🙏✨.

On this auspicious day, we also observe Baba’s Punyatithi with a special Flower Samadhi Seva — adorning Shri Sai Baba up to the neck with fresh flowers and petals 🌸🌼.

The seva will take place on 2nd October at 10:00 AM and Baba’s Darshan will be available throughout the day.

We warmly invite all devotees to join us in this sacred offering and seek Baba’s divine blessings.

With love and prayers,
Sh*tal Reading Team

01/10/2025

🌸 OM SAI RAM 🌸

*Invitation to Shirdi Sai Baba’s Punyatithi*

Wednesday 1st & Thursday 2nd October 2025 – Baba Malik

Dear Sai Devotees,

With Baba’s grace, SH*TAL – Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Association of London will observe Shirdi Sai Baba’s Punyatithi following the traditions of Shirdi as closely as possible.

The sacred observance will begin on *Wednesday, 1st October 2025 and conclude on Thursday, 2nd October 2025.*
We warmly invite you, your family, and friends to join us for the full programme of devotional activities.

*Programme Schedule*

*Wednesday, 1st October 2025*

08:45 am – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur Aarti
09:00 am – Pothi (Shri Sai Satcharitra) Palkhi Procession
09:05 am – Shri Sai Satcharitra Akhand Parayan begins
(Continuous reading of all 50 chapters in English. Devotees wishing to participate are requested to email [email protected] to register. We require 50 devotees to complete the 50 chapters.)
10:00 am – Stavanmanjari Recitation
12:00 pm – Madhyan Aarti of Shri Sai Baba
07:00 pm – Dhoop Aarti of Shri Sai Baba
12:00 am – Estimated completion of Shri Sai Satcharitra Akhand Parayan
(Completion time may vary depending on the pace of the readers.)
12:05 am – Temple closes after Pothi Palkhi Procession

*Thursday, 2nd October 2025 – Baba’s Punyatithi (Main Day)*

08:45 am – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur Aarti
09:15 am – Stavanmanjari Recitation
*10:00 am – Flower Samadhi*
(On 16th October 1918, Baba appeared to Das Ganu in a dream at Pandharpur and said: “The Masjid has collapsed. The oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased me a lot, so I leave the place. Please go there quickly and cover me with ‘Bakkal’ flowers – plentiful of flowers.” – Shri Sai Satcharitra, Marathi Ch.42, v.70–71; English p.222 by Hemadpant)
12:00 pm – Madhyan Aarti of Shri Sai Baba
07:00 pm – Dhoop Aarti of Shri Sai Baba
08:00 pm – Removal of flowers from Baba
08:15 pm – Baba’s Palkhi Procession
09:30 pm – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur
10:00 pm – Temple closes

We humbly invite all devotees to participate in these sacred observances, offer prayers, and seek the divine blessings of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba.

Kind Regards,
SH*TAL Reading Team
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Centre
44 West Street, Reading, RG1 1TZ
📞 +44 (0)118 959 1084
🌐 www.shirdisai.org.uk

Baba Malik

17/09/2025

🌸 OM SAI RAM 🌸

Invitation to Shirdi Sai Baba’s Punyatithi
Wednesday 1st & Thursday 2nd October 2025 – Baba Malik

Dear Sai Devotees,

With Baba’s grace, SH*TAL – Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Association of London will observe Shirdi Sai Baba’s Punyatithi following the traditions of Shirdi as closely as possible.

The sacred observance will begin on Wednesday, 1st October 2025 and conclude on Thursday, 2nd October 2025.
We warmly invite you, your family, and friends to join us for the full programme of devotional activities.

Programme Schedule
Wednesday, 1st October 2025
08:45 am – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur Aarti

09:00 am – Pothi (Shri Sai Satcharitra) Palkhi Procession

09:05 am – Shri Sai Satcharitra Akhand Parayan begins
(Continuous reading of all 50 chapters in English. Devotees wishing to participate are requested to email [email protected] to register. We require 50 devotees to complete the 50 chapters.)

10:00 am – Stavanmanjari Recitation

12:00 pm – Madhyan Aarti of Shri Sai Baba

07:00 pm – Dhoop Aarti of Shri Sai Baba

12:00 am – Estimated completion of Shri Sai Satcharitra Akhand Parayan
(Completion time may vary depending on the pace of the readers.)

12:05 am – Temple closes after Pothi Palkhi Procession

Thursday, 2nd October 2025 – Baba’s Punyatithi (Main Day)
08:45 am – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur Aarti

09:15 am – Stavanmanjari Recitation

10:00 am – Flower Samadhi: Covering Shri Sai Baba up to the neck with fresh flowers and petals
(On 16th October 1918, Baba appeared to Das Ganu in a dream at Pandharpur and said:
“The Masjid has collapsed. The oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased me a lot, so I leave the place. Please go there quickly and cover me with ‘Bakkal’ flowers – plentiful of flowers.”
– Shri Sai Satcharitra, Marathi Ch.42, v.70–71; English p.222 by Hemadpant)

12:00 pm – Madhyan Aarti of Shri Sai Baba

07:00 pm – Dhoop Aarti of Shri Sai Baba

08:00 pm – Removal of flowers from Baba

08:15 pm – Baba’s Palkhi Procession

09:30 pm – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur

10:00 pm – Temple closes

We humbly invite all devotees to participate in these sacred observances, offer prayers, and seek the divine blessings of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba.

Kind Regards,
SH*TAL Reading Team

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Centre
44 West Street, Reading, RG1 1TZ
📞 +44 (0)118 959 1084
🌐 www.shirdisai.org.uk

Baba Malik

15/08/2025

Om Sairam

Dear Sai Devotees,

With Baba’s grace, Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Association of London warmly invites you to join us for Shri Ganesh Utsav 2025, celebrated from 27th August to 6th September at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Centre, Reading.

Ganesh Chaturthi – Celebrations, Rituals & Traditions

Ganesh Chaturthi, observed in the Hindu month of Bhaadrapada, begins on Shukla Chaturthi (the fourth day of the waxing moon). The festival commences with the installation of the idol of Lord Ganesha.

The Pranapratishtha ritual, performed by a priest dressed in red or white dhoti and uttariyam (shawl), invokes life into the idol through sacred mantras. This is followed by Shhodashopachara – the sixteen forms of offering, including coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas, 21 blades of sacred durva grass, and red hibiscus flowers. The Lord’s form is anointed with a red unguent made of kumkum and sandalwood paste, while Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda, the Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and the Ganesha Stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.

For 10 days, from Bhadrapada Shudha Chaturthi to Ananta Chaturdashi, devotees worship Lord Ganesha with devotion and joy. On the 11th day, in a grand Visarjan procession with singing, dancing, and music, the idol is immersed in water — symbolizing His return to Mount Kailash, taking away the misfortunes of His devotees.

📜 Full Program – Sthaapna to Visarjan

27/08/2025 (1st Day)
10:30 AM – Shri Ganesh Sthaapna
11:30 AM – Shri Ganesh Aarti
07:30 PM – Shri Ganesh Aarti

28/08/2025 to 05/09/2025
11:50 AM – Shri Ganesh Aarti
07:30 PM – Shri Ganesh Aarti

06/09/2025 (Last Day)
11:50 AM – Shri Ganesh Aarti
01:00 PM – Shri Ganesh Aarti
02:00 PM – Shri Ganesh Visarjan

Let us come together in devotion to welcome Bappa into our hearts and join in these auspicious celebrations.

Kind Regards,
SH*TAL – Team

Reading Temple & Community Centre
44, West Street, Reading, RG1 1TZ
📞 +44 (0) 118 959 1084
🌐 www.shirdisai.org.uk

03/08/2025

🌸 OM SAIRAM 🌸
Invitation to All Devotees

With the divine blessings of Shri Sai Baba,
SH*TAL - Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Association of London
cordially invites you, your family, and friends to join us for the
🌺 SHREE SRINIVASA KALYANAM 🌺
on the auspicious occasion of Shravana Purnima,
Saturday, 9th August 2025
at Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Centre, Reading.

🕒 Kalyanam will commence at 3:00 PM.

This is a sacred and spiritually uplifting opportunity to witness the celestial wedding of Lord Srinivasa.

🙏 All devotees are encouraged to participate, seek the blessings of Lord Srinivasa and Shri Sai Baba, and experience divine grace.
🪔 Dhoop Aarti will follow the ceremony, after which Maha Prasad will be served.

We look forward to welcoming you for this divine celebration.

Kind regards,
SH*TAL Team
📍 Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Centre
44 West Street, Reading, RG1 1TZ
📞 +44 (0)118 959 1084
🌐 www.shirdisai.org.uk

11/07/2025

On behalf of Trustees and SH*TAL Reading Team

🙏 Heartfelt Gratitude to All Devotees 🙏

On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, we were truly blessed to witness an overwhelming turnout of over 1200 devotees throughout the day. Your unwavering devotion, patience, and cooperation—despite the challenging hot weather—made this a memorable and spiritually uplifting event.

Thank you all for waiting patiently to seek Baba's darshan and for being a part of this divine celebration. Your presence and dedication filled the atmosphere with pure devotion and love.

A special mention and our sincere gratitude to Raja Pundit Garu, whose sacred abhishekams, aartis, and Kumkumarchana brought powerful divine vibrations, making Baba's presence felt in every moment.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our amazing volunteer crew/Baba sevaks, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. Your selfless service is truly commendable.

Thank you once again to each and every one of you for making this Guru Purnima a grand and blessed event. May Baba continue to guide and bless us all. 🙏🙌

SH*TAL Reading Team

09/07/2025

🌸 OM SAIRAM 🌸

Dear Devotees,

By the divine grace of Shri Sai Baba,
SH*TAL - Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Association of London
warmly invites you all to join us on the 9th and 10th of July 2025
for the SHRI GURUPOURNIMA CELEBRATIONS 2025
at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Centre, Reading, as per the attached programme schedule.

Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwaraha |
Guru Sakshat Parabrahma Tasmai Shree Gurave Namaha ||
“The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Maheshwara (Shiva).
The Guru is verily the Supreme Reality (Parabrahma). My salutations to that revered Guru.”

Significance of Guru Pournima:
In Hindu tradition, the Guru holds the highest place of reverence, often regarded as a divine presence on Earth and the guiding light towards liberation. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, so too do disciples radiate by imbibing the teachings of their Guru.

Guru Pournima, observed on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashadha (July-August), is dedicated to the great Sage Vyasa, who compiled the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata, and the Srimad Bhagavatam. Sage Vyasa is regarded as one of the greatest Gurus, and Shri Dattatreya, the Guru of Gurus, was among his disciples.

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba is considered an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya Maharaj, and serving Shri Sai Baba is akin to serving the Supreme Satpurusha (the Enlightened One).

Our celebrations will be conducted with utmost devotion, ensuring the spiritual sanctity and significance of this sacred occasion are upheld.

We warmly invite you and your family to join us and seek Baba's blessings on this auspicious occasion.
We look forward to celebrating Guru Pournima together as a spiritual family.

Kind Regards,

SH*TAL-Team
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple & Community Centre
44, West Street, Reading, RG1 1TZ
Phone: +44 (0) 118 959 1084
Website: www.shirdisai.org.uk