(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Thousands of youngsters roam around the city on Janmashtami attempting to pull down the pot containing milk and curds strung high up between buildings.While hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts witnessed the dahi handi (curd-pot) celebrations here on Monday marking a Hindu festival there was a degree of sanity in the proceedings with participants wary of attracting the ire of the courts. The Bombay high court had last week banned children below 18 from participating in the pyramid formations and had also limited the height to 20 feet. The Supreme Court however struck down the order withdrawing the limits on height. It also banned children below 12 from participating in the pyramids. Youth tumble in an attempt to form a human pyramid in a bid to reach and break a dahi handi suspended in air during celebrations for the Janmashtami festival in Mumbai on Monday. At least 17 people were injured including one seriously while forming pyramids during the event. — AFP
Importantly many politicians in Mumbai and Thane who have in recent years commercialised the festival by offering hefty prize money chose to be cautious and did not indulge in competitive politics. The last two years have seen politicians offer prizes of up to Rs10 million to groups that are able to break the earthen pot strung high up above the ground. This year prizes were limited to around Rs100000 or a little more and the politicians did not try to tempt the groups by stringing pots to unrealistic heights.
Thousands of youngsters roam around the city on ‘Janmashtami’ attempting to pull down the pot containing milk and curds strung high up between buildings. They are part of local ‘dahi handi mandals’ (or groups) who practice for days before the festival.
But with the pots being tied 30 to 40 feet above ground — many organisers use cranes to keep them high — there has been a proliferation of accidents in recent years. Even on Monday there were at least a score of accidents with many youngsters falling from heights of 20 feet or more.
The Bombay High Court had imposed restrictions following a public interest litigation filed by various organisations prohibiting children below 18 from participating in the events. It had also banned pyramids from attempting to strike pots hung above 20 feet. The apex court however struck down the restrictions though it maintained that children below 12 should not participate. It also instructed the local authorities to ensure that the organisers followed all the safety measures recommended by the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
In their eagerness to win the millions in prize money many ‘dahi handi mandals’ would push young children to climb the human pyramids; in the past many youngsters have suffered severe injuries after falling from such heights. There have also been fatalities in the past.
Ministers lawmakers and other elected officials from parties such as the Nationalist Congress Party the Congress the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have been sponsoring the events in recent years. Bollywood stars are invited to attend the celebrations where loud music is blared all day long roads are blocked for hours and politicians strut around under the limelight.The high-profile and lucrative events has also attracted participants from abroad especially Spanish castellers.
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