With thousands of devotees that queue up to have a look at this heavenly visage, the timings for Darshan are fixed by the Sai temple authorities. You must get acquainted with this before you go for a darshan of Shri Sai Baba.
Samadhi Temple that houses the statue of Shri Saibaba opens for public Darshan at 5am, when the temple opens. You need to be there well before 4am since a long queue is already there for a moment's glance of Sai Baba. It is the time when "Utha utha Sakala Jana" a melodious prayer is played on audio cassette. Exactly at 5.15am Kakad arati begins as a request to Lord Sai to wake up and give His merciful glances to His devotees.
After the Kakad Aarati, the Samadhi and the Idol of Shri Sai is offered Mangal Snan (Holy bath) with milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghe and warm perfumed water. After this Baba is offered Shodashopachar pooja leading to aarti. From 7.10am you can have full darshan of Shri Saibaba and also make offerings such as flowers, garlands, coconut, sweets, etc. Saibaba darshan continues till 11.45am.
Between 12 and 12.30pm Mahadhyan aarti or Noon arati is performed. After this aarti, once again Sai darshan begins and devotees line to have a glance of Sai Baba. Darshan continues through Dhup aarti or Sunset aarti. The timings of Dhup aarti changes as per the orientation of Sun and thus it changes through different seasons.
After Dhup aarti, at around 10am Shej aarti is done, which is the preparation for Saibaba to retire for the day. The temple is closed by 10.20pm. You can have regal darshan of Saibaba's padukas or sacred footwear on Thursdays and on special days. During these times a majestic procession is held in all pomp and show with Saibaba's padukas kept along with his portrait is carried in a royal palanquin from Samadhi Mandir to DwarkaMai and Chawri.
