Teams seek blessing of Makhdoom Shah Baba Dargah ahead of Dahi Handi competition

Mumbai, Sept 7: Not many people know this, but quite a few teams visit Makhdoom Shah Baba Dargah in Mahim, before heading for dahi handi competitions all over the city on Janamasthami. The teams participating seek blessings of Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Baba and then proceed for the competition.

The Dargah, which is 600 years old, has been visited every year by young Govindas since 2014, who come and pay their tribute and then move on.

In a video circulated on social media, the teams can be seen forming a human pyramid, outside the premises of the Dargah, not to break the Handi as it is traditionally done, but to offer ‘Salami’ or salutation to Makhdoom Shah Baba. The teams are heard chanting “Makhdoom Shah Baba ki Jai” in unison.

Young Indian politician and youth activist Rahul Kanal, is a trustee of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi and core committee member of Yuva Sena. Along with his team Govinda Pathak, he was also a part of this celebration.

While speaking to SPICE Enquirer, managing trustee of Pir Makhdoom Saheb Charitable Trust, Suhail Khandwani threw light on the event and shared that the teams had been visiting the Dargah for quite a few years now to offer ‘Salami’ before the competition, except during the pandemic.

Khandwani himself welcomes the teams with garlands and the trust also arranges for the refreshments. The leaders of the teams are then taken inside where they seek Baba Makhdoom Shah’s blessing while the team members offer Salami at the entrance of the shrine.

With Ganesh Chaturthi also round the corner, Suhail Khandwani said, “During Ganpati as well many mandals or passersby heading for visarjan, take a few minutes to offer Salami to the Dargah. This spreads the message of peace and communal harmony.”

The trust shared a reel on Instagram which said, “This is the beauty of Indian culture. A message of peace, harmony and brotherhood from the platform of humanity none other than the aastana of Makhdoom Shah Baba.”