How did the annual fair in Shirdi begin, and why is it celebrated on Ram Navami?

The idea for an annual fair, or Jatra/Urs, in honor of Maharaj was first proposed by the devotee Gopalrao Gund. According to Chapter 0, he shared this idea with Tatya Patil, Dada Kote Patil, and Madhavrao Deshpande, who all liked the concept and agreed to organize it. Initially, they faced obstacles from the local Kulkarni, which led to the collector issuing an order preventing the fair. However, they eventually secured an official order to proceed. The decision to hold the fair specifically on Ram Navami was made by Maharaj's direct command, and this tradition has continued ever since.