DIn the month of August, around Gokulashtami, David Fernandes steps out of his mundane life and turns on his athletic mode. He climbs three-four levels of the human pyramid to participate in the Dahi Handi festival in Mumbai. David has done it for 22 years.
But his enthusiasm for the event has been missing in the last two years. The 40-year-old has been stuck in his 9 to 5 job in a private sector bank as Covid halted one of Mumbai’s biggest events. On Krishna Janmashtami, young men and women form groups to build and break human pyramids Curd Or a pot of curd hanging from a rope 20-30 feet high. David started playing the game in 2000 when Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak was formed, one of the biggest in the city. He was a kabaddi player then.
Now after a break of two years, Fernandes is looking forward to August 19, when he will once again climb to the top to beat the swings. Dahi Handi, He is out of close to 250′.Govinddas‘ Who has been practicing daily from 9 pm to 12 pm for the last two months at Mumbai’s Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak.
“We are very excited as it is coming back after two years. This year, there is no ban on Dahi Handi,” Fernandes said.
Maharashtra government has decided to lift all COVID related restrictions on Dahi Handi celebrations. Politically as well, the festival is significant as many parties and leaders sponsor Dahi Handi competitions, and various Govinda groups participate for prizes worth lakhs. With the Mumbai civic polls due later this year, political parties, especially the Shiv Sena and the BJP, are making even more aggressive efforts to cash in on the festival.
But, he Govinddas are rusting. Many are not fit enough, have gained weight or have lost confidence.
Read also: Maharashtra CM Shinde, Uddhav’s supporters set to show strength at Dahi Handi festival in Thane
Practice Makes Perfect
wearing their respective colored T-shirts and shorts Chambers8-9. makes a big circle Govinddas – This is the ‘base layer’. This layer settles down and takes the weight of the second layer. The number decreases as you go up the pyramid. Finally, the topmost person, standing at a height of 30-35 feet, breaks the pot.
Although boys and men dominate the game, girls are leading the way in many Chambers either Reader (organization) also. On average, each group breaks 8-9 utensils in a day. and 200-800 members are part of each Reader,
It becomes difficult to climb and break the pot when it rains. And if it is not raining, people from neighboring houses pour water on them so that they cannot climb.
“Dahi Handi is not just a festival but a spirit,” said Arun Patil, coach of Mazagon Tadwadi Mandal and working president of Dahi Handi Coordination Committee. But this time the training has been tough. “We’re telling Govinddas To be active all year round,” he says.
First, the group conducts tests with four or five levels and sees how they respond. “We see his stamina, balance and confidence level,” Patil said.
Jai Jawan Mandal coach Sandeep Dhawale started teaching at the age of 18. “I started with 15 boys and now the number has increased to 650,” he said.
While Dahi Handi has been played in Mumbai for decades, the concept of practicing with a proper diet started only in 1985.
“In 1985, we built a five-tiered pyramid for the first time. We were settled about it. many neighbors Govinda Pathak Watched us and started practicing,” Patil said.
Fitness is important if you have to lift 2-3 men, and the load can easily go up to 110 kg. But in the last two years the pandemic has affected everyone Chambers, majority of Govinddas No fitness.
“Some boys have become lazy and heavy. Those who used to weigh 60 kilograms are now over 70 – it’s causing a bit of a problem,” Fernandes said.
In 2016, the Supreme Court capped height of handi at 20 feet and barred minors from participating. This led to widespread protests across Maharashtra and a petition was filed in the Bombay High Court. In 2017, the Bombay High Court lifted the height restrictions. handiBut the age restriction remains – anyone under the age of 14 cannot participate.
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trust is key
According to coach Patil, along with physical fitness, sports depend on teamwork and mental character. The person climbing up must believe that if he stumbles, the person below him will catch him.
“Team work has been disrupted due to Covid and team bonding is taking time. It will take at least a year to regain that trust,” Patil said.
There are ‘4-5 check points’ to remove the fear from their hearts.
“We throw them with utmost care from the fourth or fifth level. Others grab them,” says Dhawale.
Injuries – part and parcel
Behind the energy and craze of Dahi Handi festival are many injuries. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde this year announced That the government will give an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh to all Govinddas across the state. But with professional training, the focus is on reducing these. taught to fall Govinddas,
“They all fall together so there is minimal injury. We train them to be ready to take that load. Injuries happen if someone falls straight from above,” Patil said.
There are fitter boys in the lower levels. But part of Patil’s job is also to visit hospitals after the incident to check on teams. Govindasi Often cracked feet, wrists, and swollen backs occur.
Fernandes is more confident. “I haven’t fallen yet in the last 22 years,” he says proudly.
But every year after Dahi Handi there are reports of people getting injured. In 2019, there were 60 people Injured In Mumbai alone.
Read also: Floods unfortunate but cancellation of Dahi Handi not a solution: Mumbai Govinda
army vs army
Like Ganesh Chaturthi, Dahi Handi celebrations in Maharashtra are attended by politicians, Bollywood celebrities and TV stars.
most famous handi The meetings are organized by Shiv Sena MLA (now Shinde camp) Pratap Sarnaik in Thane, BJP MLA Ram Kadam in Ghatkopar and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in Worli and Dadar. This year’s political drama has increased the competition between Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena.
but most Govinddas And Chambers No political tag needed.
“It is not a festival of any political party. It is a festival of Hindus,” says Patil.
The prize money won by him is used for social work. “We don’t play for money. We play for this festival,” Fernandes said.