The Bombay high court’s limitations on the height of handi, age restrictions on participating Govindas, limitation on using public road space for organizing Dahi Handi have diluted the magnanimity of the Dahi handi event this year in Mumbai and Thane.
There has been 35 per cent decrease in the participation of Dahi handi mandals. Many prominent Dahi Handi mandals had called off the celebrations in view of acute drought in various parts of the state.
However, the festive zeal is still higher at many places across Mumbai.
The mega festival of Dahi handi is being celebrated in Mumbai and suburbs today amidst festive zeal and gaiety.
Keeping up with the festive tradition, as many as 800 govinda mandals across Mumbai and thane are attempting to form 7-8 layers of human pyramid to break the Dahi Handi tied above.
The prominent city streets are jam-packed with young and enthralling crowd cheering for govinda troops in the presence of film and television personalities.
Besides the mega celebrations, which will go on till night, several social organizations in the city have organized special Dahi handi for visually impaired and disable children at their neighborhood. Some women groups wearing traditional Nau Vari sarees have been also seen attempting to break hadis and cheering Govinda re Gopala.
Meanwhile, a 29-year-old Govinda mandal participant was killed while trying to tie the Dahi Handi at Bhiwandi in adjoining Thane district this afternoon. According to the civic officials around 106 govindas were injured till the end of the day, of which 94 were discharged after giving proper treatment. Remaining 12 are being treated at various city hospital however, all are stable.