Mumbai: For years, the Dahi Handi festival has provided a platform for ambitious politicians from various parties to showcase their strength. They organise elaborate competitions, offering substantial prize money, to woo their respective constituents. However, this year, the state government itself has decided to enter the arena.
The state government — led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — has organised a competition called the “Pro Govinda League” where groups from across the state will participate in the competition that will be held in Mumbai.
Dahi Handi, also called Gopal Kala, falls a day after Krishna Janmashtami. During a Dahi Handi event, participants come together to form a human pyramid with a minimum of three tiers. Their aim is to reach an earthen pot — hung at a certain height — filled with curd and other treats, and attempt to break it.
The tradition is a play on the legend of baby Krishna attempting to steal butter from pots kept out of reach.
This year, Dahi Handi will be celebrated on 7 September.
Political parties, especially Shiv Sena and the BJP, have been organising these events across the state for years. The most famous Dahi Handi events are the ones organised by Sarnaik in Thane, BJP MLA Ram Kadam in Ghatkopar, and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena UBT’s in Worli and Dadar.
Speaking to the media Sunday, Industries minister Uday Samant from Shiv Sena said, “There has been a demand for this from the Govinda associations for a long time. It will be held on the lines of the Pro Kabaddi League. Govindas will also have insurance coverage. Around 50,000 Govindas, including 3,500 from Mumbai, can benefit from this event.”
The Pro Govinda League will be held at the National Sports Club of India at Worli, Mumbai, on 31 August.
The opposition in the state, however, has criticised the “Pro Govinda League” as the ruling government’s attempt to “hijack” the political space.
“Every time the festival is round the corner, such events are invented to create a hype,” said Sachin Ahir, Shiv Sena UBT leader who has been arranging Dahi handi competitions in Mumbai’s Worli area, to ThePrint.
“This is being done to hijack the political space. This festival has always been a people’s festival. Their caste, creed, political affiliations are not looked upon ever. But now the government wants to bring all of this on the political platform, which is unfortunate,” he added.
Since the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena came to power in Maharashtra in alliance with the BJP in June 2022, every festival — from Dahi Handi and Ganesh Chaturthi to Diwali — has been celebrated on a grand scale.
Last year, the government had also declared Dahi handi as an official sport.
With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections round the corner, all political parties are trying to target the core Marathi vote base, especially in Mumbai and Thane.
But Samant said that this has nothing to do with politics. “We don’t want to touch politics here. We are here only to encourage the sport,” he said.
BJP’s Ram Kadam, told ThePrint, “It’s a major thing that the current government has taken up this issue — to make Dahi Handi a sport. All organisers and we are extremely happy. There is a vast difference between the past government and this government. We are giving permissions for things which are essential to our culture.”
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Pro Govinda league & the politics around it
The Pro Govinda League — which will see participation from 16 Govinda groups — will be held on the evening of 31 August between 6 pm and 10 pm. How these 16 groups will be selected from across the state is yet to made clear.
According to Samant, the first prize at the Pro Govinda League will be Rs 11 lakh, second Rs 7 lakh, third Rs 5 lakh, and fourth Rs 3 lakh. The rest will be rewarded for their participation.
“We are organising this competition as the formation of the human pyramid is now recognised as an adventure sport. We want to take this competition to an international level,” said sports minister and NCP leader Sanjay Bansode.
Speaking to ThePrint, Purvesh Sarnaik, son of MLA Shiv Sena Pratap Sarnaik, who is part of the Dahi Handi Coordination Committee, said: “This is the first time that Dahi Handi will be celebrated indoors. The surface mat on the bottom will be like an Olympic mat. Along with it, for safety and precautions, harnesses will be used and govindas will have to compulsorily wear helmets.”
The state government has also taken out insurance for around 50,000 Govindas, said Samant, adding that in case of a death, the relative of the victim will be entitled to receive Rs 10 lakh as insurance.
Reports of injuries during the Dahi Handi festival are not unusual. In 2019, 60 people were injured in Mumbai alone. After a Covid-induced break of two years, when the festival resumed in 2022, the spate of injuries continued. According to reports, over 150 participants were injured in Mumbai last year, while in Thane, the number was around 64.
In 2017, the Bombay High Court had lifted height restrictions on handis, but the age restriction remains — it’s open to ages 14 and above.
While Dahi Handi has been played in Mumbai for decades, the concept of practising with a proper regimen started only in 1985. Govindas train for months before the festival, sustaining injuries even during practice.
Dahi Handi associations say they want the insurance cover date, which currently covers a person only till the next morning after the event, be extended.
“We are happy that our long-standing demand has been fulfilled, but we have also requested the government that the insurance cover cut-off date be increased since in many rural parts, the festival goes on for four to five more days. Also, if in the future, these young Govindas can get employed under the (sports) quota, it will be wonderful,” said Arun Patil, president of the Dahi Handi Association, a state-level organisation.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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