What was the context of Sai Baba's return to Shirdi? How did a wedding procession facilitate this event?

The context for Sai Baba's return to Shirdi is intricately linked with Chand Patil, as narrated in Chapter 5. After Baba revealed his saintly nature to Patil through a series of miracles in the wilderness, he accepted an invitation to stay at Patil's home in the village of Dhup. They remained there for some time. The specific event that facilitated Baba's return to Shirdi was a matrimonial alliance. Chand Patil's wife's nephew had reached marriageable age and a favorable match was found with a bride from Shirdi. The entire wedding party, including Sai Baba, traveled from Dhup to Shirdi for the ceremony. Thus, as the scripture states, Baba returned to Shirdi 'within a Muslim wedding party,' ending his period of obscurity.