Dahi handi in Thane strung at 49 feet more than double the height allowed by Supreme Court
THANE: In Mumbai suburb Thane, a “dahi handi” has been strung up at 49 feet this morning, more than double the height allowed by the Supreme Court just yesterday.
But Avinash Jadhav, the man organising Janamashtmi celebrations here is clear he takes his orders only from his boss Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena or MNS.
Mr Thackeray has told workers of his party that the festival, which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, will be observed today “the way it’s meant to be.”
The workers see in that the hint that while they respect the Supreme Court, they need not follow its ruling. “The Supreme Court cannot dictate how we celebrate our festivals. If I break the law then I am willing to go to jail for this,” said Mr Jadhav.
Mr Thackeray is expected to visit Thane this evening for the Dahi handi. Policemen posted there have watched the handi being prepared all morning but have not intervened so far. Some were seen clicking selfies as the participants were gearing up to start festivities.
In Maharashtra on Janamashtmi, dahi handis or earthern pots filled with curd are strung up high on poles. Human pyramids are built by participants, who call themselves “Govindas” and compete to reach the pot and break it.
The Supreme Court refused yesterday to rethink its order that the height of the handi should be no more than 20 feet.
The top court has also banned those below 18 from participating in the pyramids. There have been accidents in past years in which people, including children, have been killed or injured after falling off the pyramid. Last year, 300 people were injured and one person was killed during dahi handi festivities in Maharashtra.
