SC RULING SMASHED ALONG WITH HANDIS
Mumbai and Thane celebrated Dahi Handi on Thursday on a note of defiance and disappointment at the Supreme Court order curtailing the handi height to 20 feet and excluding minors from participation in the pyramid.
The disappointment was apparent across the board with many registering their reservations by wearing black arm bands and waving black flags. In the case of many others, the defiance manifested in cocking a snook at the Supreme Court ruling by erecting higher than mandated pyramids.
However, Mumbai Police kept a watchful eye and spokesperson Ashok Dudhe said that they had videographed the celebrations across the city. But the men in khaki stopped short of making an intervention to enforce the court ruling.
"All those found flouting the Supreme Court norms shall be booked and prosecuted depending on the nature of the violation," Dudhe warned. Two handis – one each in Jogeshwari and Thane – have already invited police strictures for violation of court orders. In Thane, the police moved swiftly and booked at least 19 organisations for flouting the apex court orders.
The more creative among the participants and the organizers thought of ingenious ways to protest against the ruling, with one Dadar group building a nine-tier horizontal pyramid level with the ground. Another bypassed the curbs by hanging the pot at a height of more than 30 feet with the Govinda climbing up a ladder to break it, thus mocking the court order.
There were other pyramids in which the top tier became a podium for brandishing and waving black flags. A Govinda in Thane became an amusing spectacle: he was clenching a measuring tape between his teeth to ensure he does not breach the 20feet limit.
Among the political parties, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena seized the initiative and egged on the participants to join the proceedings with greater fervor.
Taking a cue, many 'mandals' went into overdrive and allegedly flouted the 20-feet ceiling for human pyramids. A report from Thane said a "Dahi Handi" was allegedly strung up at 49 feet, almost double the height mandated by the Supreme Court. One of its organisers and MNS activist, Avinash Jadhav, said he was prepared "to go to jail" but would take orders only from his leader Raj Thackeray. Some MNS supporters were even spotted wearing t-shirts which said "I will break the law". Late night reports said an FIR has been registered against 16 mandals associated with the MNS in Thane for flouting the safety norms. Voicing its reservation over the court directions, the Shiv Sena said the government should have come out with an ordinance reversing the order. The police, instead of enforcing law and order, are expected to go around with a roving eye and implement the SC's guidelines. BJP MP Kirit Somaiya added his peculiar ‘scam’ flavor to the festival in Mulund, where he broke the ‘Ghotala Handi’ -- a 3-tier human pyramid. In Kurla, a dahi handi event was called off as a mark of tribute to those who lost their lives in the Mahad tragedy. Among the highlights of the celebrations was Maharashtra's first all-blind team of Govindas from Nayan Foundation who built a four-tier pyramid in Dadar Displaying religious amity, the Jari-Mari Sanstha in Mahim first offered respects at the 14th century tomb of Muslim Saint Makhdoom Ali Shah and then kicked off the Janmashtami celebrations. Till 6 pm, various government hospitals had over a 100 injured Dahi Handi participants from different parts of Mumbai and Thane but most were discharged after treatment. One injured 'Govinda' was, however, reported to be in a serious condition in Ulhasnagar, an official said. (Input Agencies)