Why did Sai Baba require devotees to travel to a forest to perform readings of the Uddhava Gita?

This premise is incorrect based on the provided information. Sai Baba did not require devotees to travel to a forest for spiritual readings. In fact, the text from Chapter 18 explicitly states the opposite, asserting, "One does not need to go to the forest; God manifests in the Uddhava Gita. Those who perform the reading with faith attain God instantly." Baba made these sacred texts accessible within the village of Shirdi. He assigned Sakharam Hari Jog to conduct daily readings in Sathe’s Wada, and He would even send devotees who came to see him at the Masjid over to the Wada to listen. This demonstrates that Baba's method was to bring spiritual practice to the devotees where they were.