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Dahi Handi Festival
Festive fervour reached a crescendo on Saturday, as thousands of 'govindas' formed human pyramids across Mumbai and neighbouring cities, risking bone-breaking falls to shatter curd-filled clay pots to mark Dahi Handi. From narrow alleyways of Lalbaug and Dadar in central Mumbai to mega-venues in Thane, the air hung heavy with the beat of dhols, as troupes of young 'govindas', both male and female, travelled to venues in different parts of the city and suburbs to test months of practice to scale towering heights and win prizes worth lakhs. Decorated with flowers and balloons, hundreds of 'handis' (clay pots) were suspended in residential societies, at busy intersections, and open grounds across the metropolis after midnight, marking the birth of Lord Krishna. Dahi Handi, an integral part of the Janmashtami festivities, involves troupes of young men and women forming human pyramids as high as 10 tiers to break earthen pots filled with curd and suspended several metres above the ...
The Maharashtra government has announced insurance coverage to 1.5 lakh 'Govindas' taking part in Dahi Handi festivities with a maximum payout at Rs 10 lakh in case of death, a move coming less than a month before the popular festival. During the Dahi Handi festival, part of Janmashtami celebrations, Govindas (youngsters) form human pyramids to smash a pot of milk, curd and butter suspended at a height, in a playful re-enactment of Lord Krishna's childhood antics. The insurance package will cover accidental injuries (sometime fatal) caused during the formation of human pyramids. The state government will bear the insurance costs for registered participants forming human pyramids during the popular festival, which will be celebrated on August 16 this year, according to a government resolution (GR) issued on Wednesday. The Maharashtra State Govinda Association, Mumbai, has been designated to verify the training, age and participation of Govindas, and submit their details to the ...
Dahi Handi, which is part of Krishna Janmashtami festival, is likely to be celebrated on a grand scale across Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai and its neighbouring areas, on Friday after a pandemic-induced gap of two years. As part of the festival, youngsters (called Govindas), dressed in colourful attire, make human pyramids to reach an earthen pot containing buttermilk suspended mid-air, and break it. It symbolises victory through unity. The festival is celebrated on a large scale in Mumbai metropolitan areas. The Maharashtra government had last month announced that there would be no restrictions on celebrating religious festivals, including Dahi Handi and Ganesh Chaturthi, this year. In the last two years, the celebrations were hampered due to the COVID-19 restrictions. On Thursday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced in the state Legislative Assembly that the government has decided to accord adventure sport status to Dahi Handi. The adventure sport tag will allow young ...
Should the Supreme Court, already burdened by backlogs of cases involving issues of national importance, which are awaiting their turn to even be heard for decades, be willing to entertain and decide the maximum height of the human pyramid? The human pyramid is part of the dahi-handi ritual on Janmashtami in Maharashtra.There are reports now of some groups openly defying such a limit fixed by the apex court, creating a piquant situation for itself as well as for the agencies that comply with judicial direction from the highest court of the land.If indeed such reports are true, will the court proceed against those found violating its direction? While refusing a plea for raising the 20-foot height, the court seemed concerned about reports of spinal cord injuries caused by such human pyramids. The question that arises is: Should for the same reason all adventure sports be also banned?S K Choudhury BengaluruLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru