Krishna Janmashtami: Dahi Handi celebrations begin in Mumbai with joy and enthusiasm

Dahi Handi celebrations started in Mumbai on Thursday morning with much joy and enthusiasm as thousands of participants and spectators gathered to mark the occasionDahi Handi is part of the Krishna Janmashtami festival celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna During the festival Govindas or Dahi Handi participants form multitiered human pyramids to break dahi handis earthen pots filled with curd suspended in the airDahi handis decorated with flowers have been hoisted many feet above the ground at several housing societies roads junctions and public grounds across the cityDressed in colourful attires Govindas have been visiting these places in trucks tempos buses and twowheelersPopular Bollywood songs about the festival are blaring from speakers at every nook and corner of the city with the festive spirit particularly high in Marathidominated pockets like Parel Lalbaug Worli Dadar Bhandup Mulund Goregaon and AndheriIn recent years some Dahi Handi events backed by politicians in Mumbai and neighbouring cities have become famous due to hefty prize money the presence of celebrities and entertainment programmes organised there These Dahi Handis attract huge crowds and a steady flow of GovindasPolice officials said they have beefed up the security agreements in the city to avoid any law and order issues during the celebrations reported news agency PTIAccording to a release by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC it has kept 125 beds ready at civic hospitals for the treatment of the Govindas if they get injured after falling while making human pyramidsIn a release issued on Wednesday the BMC said that of the 125 beds 10 are kept ready at Sion hospital seven at KEM hospital four at Nair hospital and the remaining ones at various civic hospitals in the city and suburbsAccording to the civic body it has deputed health officers and staff in three shifts to treat the injured Govindas at these hospitals which have been directed to keep injections medicines and surgery materials readyThose Govindas who sustain minor injuries will be given primary treatment and discharged while arrangements have been made at the hospitals to treat those who need treatment for a longer period the release saidAs part of the celebrations Govinda troops visit various parts of the city to break dahi handi an earthen pot filled with curd dahi butter or other milk products Since the dahi handi is placed several feet above the ground the Govindas form multitiered human pyramids to reach and break itThere are chances of participants falling down and injuring themselves sometimes critically during the formation of human pyramidsSome organisers of the dahi handi event offer hefty cash prizes for the Govinda troops that succeed in breaking the pot Some prominent Govinda teams even attempt the formation of 8 to 9tiered human pyramidsJanmashtami is being celebrated on September 6 and 7 across the country To celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna devotees observe fast and decorate temples and their homes with flowers diyas and lightsAs per the Hindu calendar Lord Krishna an avatar of Lord Vishnu was born on the eighth day of the month of Bhadra The day mostly falls in the months of August or September as per the Western calendarThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever