What was Sai Baba's daily custom concerning the sacred ash, or Udi, and what did it signify for devotees wanting to leave Shirdi?

Sai Baba maintained a consistent daily practice involving Udi, the sacred ash from his perpetually burning fire, the Dhuni. As detailed in Chapter 33, he would offer firewood into the Dhuni, and the resulting ash was distributed to devotees throughout the day. For those wishing to leave Shirdi, receiving Udi from Baba was a significant event. The text explains that when devotees asked for permission to return to their villages, Baba giving them the Udi was the true sign of his consent. This act was known to all devotees and would make them feel enthusiastic about their journey home.