Government has failed the people, say organisers

The Supreme Court's judgment, banning minors from participating as govindas in human pyramids and height restriction of 20 feet, came as a dampener to the enthusiasm of organisers and mandals across the city.

Most of them were expecting that the restrictions will not be there considering the optimism in the government which was asked by the Bombay High Court to get a clarification from the Supreme Court over the issue.

Stating that they were sad and angry with the judgment, organisers slammed the government for letting them down. Kamlesh Bhoir, general secretary, Dahi Handi Utsav Samanvay Samiti (DHUSS), said: "It is a Black Day for us. We did not expect this from the government and the Supreme Court. We will appeal to the government and we will also hold a meeting with the chief minister in this regard. To me, it looks like a conspiracy."

Organisers and participants said the festival has been going on for years and helps connecting people. Arun Patil, vice president of Mazgaon Dakshinvibhag Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal, said: "Dahi handi is a big festival that connects lakhs of people each year. The SC order will affect all of them."

He added that younger children are better because they are lighter and chances of injury are less. "Besides, if it is listed as an adventure sport, then one must understand that accidents are bound to happen. We cannot stop everything," said Patil.

Geeta Zagde, secretary of DHUSS who heads the women's wing, said that she now hopes that organisers do not back out. "Dahi handi isn't a day's job. It takes months of practice to get to where our children are. Enough efforts go into it and the money invested in it also matters a lot. Finding replacements in the last minute becomes chaotic and difficult. It is a tradition and culture that has been followed. Like every game, even Dahi Handi has evolved with time. We, too, are taking safety measures. And which sport anyways guarantees complete protection? We are only hoping that the organizers don't back out," she said.

Jitendra Awhad, of Sangharsh, said: "It is an unfortunate decision and should have been thought through earlier in 2014 itself. The government has absolutely failed the masses. Safeguarding the festival should have been the interest rather than banning things like this. The basic charm, enthusiasm, interest and competition spirit will be affected this year. The Supreme Court should suggest precautions but not ban things like this."

His party member, Sachin Ahir, who used to organise one of the biggest Dahi Handis in the city, echoed similar views. Stating that he will not orgainse the event this year, Ahir said that the madals should not flout rules and be careful.

"Firstly, it is a very sad decision. But the court had done the clarification last year itself. This decision is actually a failure of the government. Last year, my dear friend Ashish Shelar, who was coordinating the issue, was shouting and saying that there is no stay. The stay was always existing. We were always saying you come up with clarification. In fact it was the HC that asked the government to go to SC for clarification. The government did not even do that. For past one year they did nothing. It is unfortunate. Shelar had to go to court and apologize," said Ahir, trustee of Sankalp Pratishthan.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Vinod Tawde, culture and sports minister did not respond to SMS from dna. Pratap Sarnaik from Shiv Sena, whose organisation Sanskriti Yuva Paratishthan conducts the festival in a big way, said that they would continue to do the same. "There is anger among organisers and Govinda Pathaks. Like last year we will follow rules," claimed Sarnaik.

He added: "This is not the final order. Like last year, government should approach the courts for final decision in October."

His views were echoed by Krishna Hegde, president of Krishna Hegde Pratishthan and Congress member. Hegde said: "Now I think the state government should approach the SC in this regard. Last time there was an order restricting the level to 20 feet. And then there was another order of you can go to more levels. I think the state government can re-approach."

MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar, blaming the government, said: "We respect the SC order, but the SC should also respect people's sentiments. The constitution gives us the right to choose things on our will in a democratic country like India. Restrictions is not the solution, providing security measures is important. Making safety measures, helmets mandatory could have been a better decision. The fun will die if one speaks about a three-layer pyramid up to 20 feet. The state government has clearly let us down. I have been a govinda myself, it is a charm at one point of time, it won't be the same anymore. Do they want us to show our future generations about dahi handi only in books and photographs?"