Two persons were killed and at least 120 others injured in “dahi handi”-related incidents in the metropolis and neighbouring Thane and Palghar districts on Tuesday, even as the Janmashtami revelers made the most of the absence of height restrictions this year and scaled as tall as nine-tier “human pyramids” of the height of 40 feet each at several places in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) exposing themselves to considerable risk.
One Rohan Gopinath Kini (21) collapsed after climbing down a “human pyramid” in Kashipada village in Palghar district around 6.30 pm. He was rushed to Palghar district civil hospital where he was declared dead before admission. “The deceased had epilepsy. We have sent Rohan’s body for post-mortem. We will get to know the exact cause of death as soon as we get the report,” Palghar District Police Superintendent Manjunath Shinge said.
Another reveler, identified as Jayesh Charan, was electrocuted during a dahi handi event organised at Radikabai school ground at Airoli in Navi Mumbai. The event was organised by Vijay Choughule of the Shiv Sena.
In yet another incident, a Govinda survived a major mishap at Tardeo in south Mumbai, where a reveler was left hanging to the dahi handi rope after the human pyramid collapsed. The stranded reveler was safely brought down.
Till 8 pm, 117 revelers were injured in dahi handi” incidents reported from different parts of the metropolis. Of the injured, 67 were treated and allowed to go, while two revelers are undergoing treatment (one each) in KEM, Nair and Siddarth Hospitals.
With the Bombay High Court refusing last week to impose height restrictions on “Dahi handis”, there was marked enthusiasm among Govindas – as the revelers are commonly called – in the city, with many organising mandals erecting nine-tier “human pyramids” equivalent to height of 40 ft.
last year, the Maharashtra Government had declared “dahi handi” as an “adventurous sport”. However, following a submission made by the State Government in response to a public interest litigation before it last week, a HC division Bench had accepted the State Government’s submission that it would not permit the children below 14 years to take part in the dahi handi celebrations.
In a nine-tier event held at Thane’s Naupada locality, the Govindas owing affiliation to the Borvili Shivayi Mandal broke the dahi-handi and won a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh. The “human pyramids” were formed at many places like Worli, Kala chowki, Dadar Ghatkopar, Jogeshwari, neighbouring Thane city, Kalyan, Navi Mumbai and Palghar district. Not wanting to take any chances, the police had deployed strong posse of police persons at various sensitive areas across the metropolis.
Though the dahi handi celebrations coincided with Independence Day, there was considerable fervour and verve among the revelers. Slogans like “Govinda Ala re...” and “Govinda re Gopala, Bol Bhajrang Bali ki jai, Go Go Govinda...” rent the air, as boisterous revelers — better known as Govindas — climbed human pyramids to break the traditional “dahi handis’. These “dahi-handis” contain a mixture of milk, curd, dry fruits and prize money for Govindas break them. The ritual involving “dahi handi” symbolises the manner in which young Krishna stole butter from an earthen pot suspended from the ceiling.
Meanwhile, like every year, the matter relating to the age limit and height restrictions had reached the Bombay High Court this year as well.
On August 7, after refusing to pass orders on imposing age and height restrictions on human pyramid formations during for the “dahi handi” celebrations, the Bombay High Court had accepted the State Government’s stand banning the children below the age of 14 years from participating in the event.
“It is not for the High Court to impose restrictions on the age of the participants and height of the pyramids as this falls exclusively in the domain of the state legislature. If we enter into this arena we will be infringing upon State’s domain,” Justice Gavai BR Gavai had said.
Justice Gavai had gone onto observe: “We accept the statement made by the State government that it would ensure children below 14-years of age would not participate in the dahi handi festival”.