City-based Govinda pathaks want organisers to pay attention to human pyramids rather than splurge on celebrities and DJs
Ahead of the Dahi Handi celebrations in August, city-based govinda pathaks want mandal organisers to pay attention and highlight the art of forming human pyramids rather than commercialising the festival.
According to the govinda pathaks in the city, year after year mandal organisers are paying more attention to DJs, celebrity guest appearances, and dance performances rather than concentrating on the pathaks who come to perform during the day-long festival.
The pathaks, who start practicing on the day of Guru Purnima every year, feel that they have not been receiving enough recognition due to the commercialisation of the festival.
Bala Padalkar, the Dahi Handi Utsav Samanvay Samiti (DHUSS) president, said, "Many pathaks have been complaining that the viewers who come to watch are more interested in the dance performances, music and celebrity guests rather than watching the pathaks forming a human pyramid. The importance should be given to the Govindas and Dahi Handi."
There are around 1,200 mandals in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. Geeta Zagade, secretary of one of the pathak's women wing, said, "Rather than wasting money on celebrities, posters, and other event elements, they should give more importance to Govindas. More space should be given to the pathaks to perform so that there will be fewer injuries. We had a meeting with the mandals a few days ago and all of these issues were discussed."
According to DHUSS, the pathak groups have this year decided to perform at mandals who plan to keep the event low-key.
The DHUSS committee members also met MNS chief Raj Thackeray at his Dadar residence on Friday. Thackeray told the pathak groups to stay away from mandals who commercialise the celebration of the festival. He also pushed them to celebrate the festival in a traditional manner.
What the sc says
There are around 1,200 mandals in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai
In 2016, a day before the Dahi Handi festival, SC refused the plea by a Mumbai-based Dahi Handi trust and ordered that the height of the human pyramid formed during the festival should not go beyond 20 feet
Currently, Govindas below the age of 18 years are not allowed to perform
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