Who was Damu Anna and what was his connection to the Ram Navami festival in Shirdi?

Damu Anna was a devout and wealthy bronze-smith (Kasar) from Ahmednagar, known for his devotion to Sai Baba's feet. His story is shared in the Shri Sai Satcharitra to show Sai's readiness to protect His followers. According to Chapter 25, Damu Anna had a significant role in the annual Ram Navami festival in Shirdi. He had taken a vow, which he upheld for many years with uninterrupted devotion, to provide one of the two large new flags that were taken out in a procession through the village. The other flag was provided by the Nimonkars. This procession would start from the house of Kondaji Sutara and conclude with the flags being tied to the Masjid.