Was it considered important to bring an offering when visiting Sai Baba?

Yes, bringing an offering was presented as a proper and respectful custom. Chapter 35 explicitly states, 'It is not good to go empty-handed to the door of God, a priest, or a Guru.' In adherence to this tradition, the devotee Kaka purchased two seers of grapes to present to Sai Baba upon arriving in Shirdi. This particular offering, though a simple gesture of respect, became the very instrument through which Baba performed a profound miracle for Boss Dharamsee, demonstrating how even a small, customary act can become a channel for immense grace and spiritual transformation.