Australia-based devotee donates gold crown to Saibaba shrine

Shirdi: An Australia-based Saibaba devotee, Venkat Suhas Atluri, today donated a gold crown, weighing 748 grams, to the Shirdi shrine here, officials said. The crown, adorned with multi-coloured gems, is estimated to be worth over Rs 20 lakh, officials of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust said.

Atluri visited the shrine in the morning on the occasion of Dussehra and took part in the 'aarti', they added. "I am visiting Shirdi since I was one-year-old. I hail from Andhra Pradesh and due to Saibaba's blessings, I have settled in Australia," he said.

One of the trustees, Sachin Tambe, said at least one lakh devotees visited the shrine today.