What is the purpose of the invocations at the beginning of Shri Sai Satcharitra's first chapter?

According to Chapter 1 of the Shri Sai Satcharitra, the opening section, known as Mangalacharan, serves a crucial purpose. The author explains that at the start of any task, it is wise to perform auspicious invocations for its obstacle-free completion and to obtain divine grace. The primary reason for this auspicious beginning is the removal of all obstacles, and the ultimate purpose is the fulfillment of the desired goal, which in this case is the successful writing of Sai's life story. The chapter explicitly states that this traditional etiquette is adopted for attaining auspiciousness. Salutations are offered to Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati, the Guru, and other deities to ensure the sacred work proceeds smoothly.