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HomeIndiaFloods unfortunate but cancelling dahi handi not solution, say Mumbai Govindas

Floods unfortunate but cancelling dahi handi not solution, say Mumbai Govindas

Govindas of Mumbai feel dejected as many politicians, organisations pull out of celebrations due to recent floods in several parts of Maharashtra.

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Mumbai: Dahi handi is one of the festivals that truly defines Mumbai. A number of politicians often support the mandals which organise human pyramids, with large cash prizes for the tallest and fastest tower to break a handi.

This year, however, dahi handi celebrations might be a little lacklustre and subdued. Many politicians and mandals have pulled out of the event due to the recent floods that have wreaked havoc in several parts of Maharashtra.

Across the city, several mandals have cancelled their festivities instead pledging the funds to help flood-ravaged districts of Sangli and Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra.

The Govindas (dahi handi players), however, are upset. Having practised for several months, they insist organisers should at least have had a dialogue with them before deciding to cancel the celebrations.

“All Govindas are dejected. Whenever there is a disaster in the city, these teams of Govindas actively help in rescue and relief operations. Even after the floods, many had sent material and monetary help to those affected in Sangli and Kolhapur districts. Dahi handi is one event that keeps them together and builds their team spirit. It should not be cancelled,” said Arun Patil, a member of the Dahi Handi Samanvayak Samiti who also coaches Govindas.

In the meanwhile, politicians such as the BJP’s Kalidas Kolambkar, who recently switched to the ruling party from Congress, and Ram Kadam as well as Shiv Sena’s Rajan Vichare have cancelled their dahi handi events.

Others such as Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and Ravindra Phatak are likely to have low-key celebrations.


Also read: Maharashtra parties promise not to politicise floods, then do just that a week later


‘Inappropriate to celebrate during tragedy’

“We need to help those affected by the floods. So the reward money, which we would have otherwise set aside for the dahi handi event will now be donated to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund,” said Kolambkar.

Sena MP Vichare also said he and other party members from Thane were focusing only on relief work in the flood-destructed Sangli and Kolhapur districts for the past two weeks.

“We have provided kits of 19 essential items – right from sarees, mirrors and bindis, to rice, food grains, tea, toothpaste and others. We have sent medicines worth Rs 2-3 crore to almost all villages in these districts and provided doctors. The condition is very bad. Entire villages have been submerged. People have lost their crop, homes and domestic animals. They have been left with nothing,” Vichare added.

He also said it wasn’t appropriate to celebrate when “our brothers and sisters are suffering”.

Vichare will, however, hold the special dahi handi event for children suffering from cancer that his trust organises each year.

Govindas disappointed

“Many mandals have cancelled their events this year because of the Sangli, Kolhapur floods. Actually these events should not have been cancelled…We practiced for two-three months for this. It is an important festival for Mumbai,” said 17-year-old Sakshi Jasu.

Jasu, a class 12 student, had in 2008 made a record of sorts when as a six-year-old she climbed the final eighth tier of a pyramid to break the handi and claim the prize for her team.

The Bombay High Court had, in 2017, put age restrictions on those participating in the festival — disallowing children below the age of 14 from taking part in the human pyramid.

Saurabh Molke, who has been a Govinda for the last 13 years, said organisers should have held a dialogue with their committee.

“The floods in Sangli and Kolhapur districts are extremely unfortunate. But there are thousands of govindas like me who practiced for two-three months. This is a way to show our skills, win reward money and use it for social service as well as organise our Ganesh festival event. We never keep the reward money for ourselves,” he said.

Molke also said how some of the main events that they usually participate in have been cancelled. “Over the past few years, the reward money has also gone down. While earlier we used to get Rs 3-5 lakh for an eight-tier pyramid, now the prize for the same feat is barely Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000,” he added.


Also read: How Maharashtra govt ‘botched up’ in tackling floods worse than 2005 deluge


 

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