Shirdi darshan timings today: temple opens 4:45 AM, darshan from 6:25 AM to about 9:30 PM, Shej aarti at 10:00 PM. Aartis: Kakad 5:15 AM · Madhyan 12:00 noon · Dhoop at sunset · Shej 10:00 PM. The programme is the same every day of the week; festival days can differ. Free darshan needs no pass; paid passes are booked only on online.sai.org.in or the Sansthan's app.
Last verified: 7 Oct 2026, from the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust's daily programme and FAQ on sai.org.in.
Shirdi Daily Programme: Darshan and Aarti Time Table
| Time | Ritual / darshan |
|---|---|
| 4:45 AM | Temple opens |
| 5:00 AM | Bhupali |
| 5:15 AM | Kakad aarti (morning) |
| 5:50 AM | Mangal snaan in the samadhi mandir |
| 6:20 AM | Aarti "Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur" |
| 6:25 AM | Darshan begins in the samadhi mandir |
| 11:30 AM | Dhuni pooja with rice and ghee, Dwarkamai |
| 12:00 noon | Madhyan aarti (mid-day) |
| 4:00 PM | Pothi (reading) in the samadhi mandir |
| At sunset | Dhoop aarti |
| 8:30 – 10:00 PM | Devotional songs and cultural programmes |
| 10:00 PM | Shej aarti, the last ritual of the day |
Timings can change on festival days and for special rituals; check the official website before you travel.
The Sansthan's FAQ puts darshan hours at 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM; its daily programme shows darshan opening in the samadhi mandir at 6:25 AM, after the Kakad aarti, Mangal snaan and the morning aarti. In practice, expect the main darshan line to start moving around 6:25 AM. During each aarti the queue pauses, so a darshan timed just before noon or sunset will take longer.
The Four Aartis: Kakad, Madhyan, Dhoop and Shej
Kakad aarti (5:15 AM) is the first aarti of the day. Madhyan aarti (12:00 noon) is the mid-day aarti, preceded at 11:30 AM by the dhuni pooja at Dwarkamai. Dhoop aarti is held at sunset, so its clock time moves through the year. Shej aarti (10:00 PM) is the night aarti that closes the day. Attending an aarti inside the samadhi mandir needs a pass from the Sansthan's portal.
Shirdi Darshan Booking: Free and Paid Passes
Free darshan is always available by joining the general queue. The Sansthan also issues free and paid darshan passes and aarti passes on its official portal, online.sai.org.in, and its official mobile app. In Shirdi, passes can be taken in person at the PRO office. Charges change, so check them on the portal rather than trusting figures repeated on other websites.
The Sansthan states that it does not authorise any agents for online booking of darshan, aarti or accommodation. If someone offers a "VIP pass" for a fee, book it yourself on the portal instead.
Best Time for Shirdi Darshan, and the Busiest Days
| When | Crowd | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Very busy | Shri Sai Baba's day and the busiest day of the week |
| Weekends and long weekends | Busy | Pune and Mumbai day-trippers |
| Ram Navami, Guru Purnima | Peak festival day | Major Sansthan festivals |
| Vijayadashami (Punyatithi) | Peak festival day | Anniversary of Shri Sai Baba's samadhi; in 2026 Dussehra falls on Tue 20 Oct |
| Tue / Wed mornings | Quieter | Outside festival and school-holiday weeks |
For a quieter darshan, choose a Tuesday or Wednesday outside festival and school-holiday weeks and be in the queue soon after it opens. Our temple crowd calendar for Oct 2026 – Mar 2027 lists every date that fills Shirdi, including Diwali week and New Year.
Rules: Phones, Bags and Dress Code
- Plan to deposit phones, cameras and bags before you join the queue, and follow the instructions at the gate. The Sansthan runs lockers at a nominal charge, so allow time for this on the way in and out.
- Dress modestly, in full-length clothing with shoulders covered. The Sansthan has appealed to devotees to come in decent attire.
- Senior citizens and differently abled devotees should ask at the entrance about their queue instead of joining the main line.
- The Sansthan's prasadalaya is open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
- If you need medical help, the Sansthan runs two hospitals open 24 hours (02423-258666 / 258555).
How to Reach Shirdi from Pune
Shirdi is about 180 to 207 km from Pune by road depending on the route, usually via Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), which takes roughly 4 to 5 hours by car. Leaving Pune by 5:30 AM puts you in the queue by mid-morning; for the full hour-by-hour plan see our Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur one-day trip guide, or compare Pune to Shirdi by cab, train or bus.
Going from Pune? Our Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur one-day cab picks you up at your door at 5:30 AM and brings you home the same night, from ₹6,499 for the whole car, with tolls and parking included. Want two Jyotirlingas as well? The Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Shirdi two-day trip covers all three with a night in Nashik.
Tolls, parking and charging are included. We are a cab service, so darshan and aarti passes, pujas and offerings are yours to arrange.
Sources
- Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi — daily programme (opening, aarti and darshan times, contact numbers; checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust — FAQ (darshan hours, aarti times, booking, prasadalaya, lockers, hospitals)
- Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust — official booking portal (passes; the Sansthan's no-agents notice)
- News reports of the Sansthan's appeal to devotees to wear decent attire (December 2020)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Shirdi Sai Baba darshan timings today?
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan's daily programme is the same every day: the temple opens at 4:45 AM and darshan in the samadhi mandir begins at 6:25 AM, after the Kakad aarti and the morning rituals. The Sansthan's FAQ gives darshan hours as 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM, and the day closes with the Shej aarti at 10:00 PM. Timings can change on festival days, so confirm with the Sansthan before a festival visit.
What are the Shirdi aarti timings?
Four aartis a day: Kakad aarti at 5:15 AM, Madhyan (mid-day) aarti at 12:00 noon, Dhoop aarti at sunset, and Shej aarti at 10:00 PM. These are the times on the Shri Saibaba Sansthan's official website.
What time does the Shirdi temple open and close?
It opens at 4:45 AM and the day ends with the Shej aarti at 10:00 PM. Many websites still say 4:00 AM opening and a 10:30 PM Shej aarti; the Sansthan's own programme gives 4:45 AM and 10:00 PM.
How do I book Shirdi darshan or aarti online?
Only on the Sansthan's official booking portal, online.sai.org.in, or its official mobile app. In Shirdi, passes can also be taken in person at the PRO office. The Sansthan says it does not authorise any agents for online booking of darshan, aarti or accommodation.
Is Shirdi darshan free?
Yes. Free darshan is available by joining the general queue. The Sansthan also issues free and paid passes, and paid aarti passes, through its portal; check the current charges on online.sai.org.in rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.
What is the best day and time for Shirdi darshan?
A weekday morning that is not a Thursday. Thursday is Shri Sai Baba's day and the busiest of the week, and Ram Navami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashami (Shri Sai Baba's Punyatithi) draw the largest gatherings of the year. For a quieter darshan, choose a Tuesday or Wednesday outside festival weeks and reach the queue early.
Can I take a mobile phone into the Shirdi temple?
Plan not to. Deposit phones, cameras and bags before you join the queue and follow the instructions at the gate; the Sansthan provides lockers at a nominal charge. Allow time for this on the way in and out.
Is there a dress code at Shirdi?
Dress modestly in full-length clothing with shoulders covered. The Sansthan has appealed to devotees to come in decent attire, and that is what staff at the entrance expect.
What time is the Shirdi prasadalaya open?
The Sansthan's prasadalaya is open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, according to its official FAQ.
How far is Shirdi from Pune?
About 180 to 207 km by road depending on the route, usually via Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar). That is roughly 4 to 5 hours by car each way.
Can I do Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur in one day from Pune?
Yes. It is a long day of about 480 km, starting around 5:30 AM and back in Pune by late evening. Shani Shingnapur is about 72–80 km from Shirdi, so the two are usually combined.