Who were the initial villagers in Shirdi who welcomed and provided support to Maharaj upon his arrival?

The first person to welcome Maharaj in Shirdi was Mhalasapati, a local goldsmith and a devotee of Khandoba. As described in Chapter 0, when Maharaj entered the Khandoba temple, it was Mhalasapati who greeted him by saying, "Aavo Sai Baba." Mhalasapati then took the initiative to introduce Maharaj to the village community, starting with his friends, Kashiram Shimpi and Appa Jagle. This group of three was known for their practice of serving and providing hospitality to saints, Bairagis, and Fakirs who visited Shirdi. They extended this care to Maharaj, forming his initial support system in the village.