Shirdi is one of Maharashtra’s most important pilgrimage towns. Sai Baba, a 19th century saint who brought together people from all faiths, is the presiding deity of the shrine around which the town’s economy runs. Today, the small town with a registered population of a little over 36,000 people provides employment to thousands of migrant laborers and soothes the souls of devotees who queue up for hours to seek the blessings of the departed saint.