KOLHAPUR: Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti (PMDS), an umbrella body of temples in western Maharashtra, has decided that "there will be no draping of a shalu or silk sari of Amababai Mahalaxmi shrine in Kolhapur ) this year."Traditionally, the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD), an independent trust managing the Tirumala Venkateswara temple in Andhra Pradesh, use to present a shalu to Mahalaxmi shrine every year. The sari was then drapped to deity at Ambabai shrine on the occasion of Dussehra. But this year, there has been no written communication regarding the shalu between the two managements."This year PMDS will drape deity of Ambabai, Saraswati and Mahakali with Maha Vastra. And if TTD gifts a saree, that will be draped on the second day of Dussehra," said PMDS chairman Mahesh Jadhav As an age-old tradition,the PMDS used put the sari on auction after the festival. In 2015, PMDS was not able to sell the sari because of the high price. The PMDS had kept Rs 4.2 lakh as the base price. The auction of sari fetched Rs 2.51 lakh in 2010, Rs 2.26 lakh in 2011, Rs 3.21 lakh in 2012, Rs 7.5 lakh in 2013 and Rs 5.5 lakh in 2014.

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