Mumbai, Aug 16 (PTI) The Maharashtra government will undertake efforts to get UNESCO heritage recognition for the Dahi Handi festival and send ‘Govindas’, or participants who form tall human pyramids, to Spain to showcase the traditional celebration, Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said on Sunday.
He appealed to Dahi Handi groups to strictly follow safety regulations, traffic rules and other precautions during the celebrations. The organisers should ensure that pedestrians and citizens do not face inconvenience, he said.
Shelar was speaking at the ‘Krishnanand Sohala’ organised by the Maharashtra State Dahi Handi Govinda Association in Parel, Mumbai. The event was attended by representatives of women’s and men’s Dahi Handi teams, Govindas, and various organisations associated with the festival.
Dahi Handi festival is celebrated after Krishna Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna. Participants, or Govindas, form tall human pyramids to reach and break an earthen pot filled with curd, butter, and milk.
He said the state government would ensure that Maharashtra’s traditional festivals are protected with due importance to safety and public concerns.
“We are making efforts to take the Dahi Handi festival to UNESCO’s heritage list and will also send our Govindas to Spain,” Shelar told reporters.
The traditional practice of building human pyramids and towers is the common link between the Dahi Handi festival and Spain, where communities practice building human towers called castells.
Spanish teams regularly visit Mumbai and Thane to participate in the Dahi Handi festival. PTI ND NSK
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