Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh):
As devotees mourn the death of Sathya Sai Baba, a question arises: What will happen to his town, Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh, now that Baba is no more physically present.
People in this town in Anantapur district are worried that there will be a sharp decline in the number of pilgrims after Baba's demise.
With most restaurants remaining shut in Puttaparthi, some roadside stalls are doing brisk business. But Imtiaz and Haseena are worried about the days ahead.
"For 20 years, we have been doing this and we were able to marry off our two daughters. But with no Saibaba, we won't be able to live. Everything will be over," said a worried Haseena.
However, not everyone is feeling pessimistic.
"Swamy said Puttaparthi should become a Varanasi, Shirdi or Tirupati and I am confident it will happen," said Bhagyalakshmi, a resident of Puttaparthi.
"More people will come after this because there won't be any restrictions because of security concerns. This will be like Shirdi and Tirupati," said Jagdish, another Puttaparthi resident.
For almost everyone in this town, not just their livelihood, but their identity, priorities and their very life has been inextricably linked to Sathya Sai Baba. So, almost everyone has Sai as a prefix or suffix to their name. And it looks like keeping alive the legacy is the best way to keep the town pulsating.