Top Govinda Mandal protests court order

The dahi handi celebrations is just nearing and the ruling of the court has disappointed many Govindas. The court has imposed restrictions on the height of human pyramids to not more than 20 feet.

The Jai Jawan Govinda Mandal from Jogeshwari which had made a nine-level human pyramid of 43.79 feet in the year 2012 and which has its name entered in the Guinness Book of World Records is highly disappointed with this ruling. The coach of the Mandal Sandeep Dhawale (38) emphasised, “We should be proud of our country and the city that we have set a world record in the Guinness Book. If the sport dies, all the enthusiasm and excitement will die.”

“The record was broken after 21 years in 2012, leaving behind the record broken by Josep-Joan Martinez Lozanpo of the Colla Vella dels Xiquets at Valls in Spain of nine levels measuring 39.12 meters. There are more than 500 Govindas from all over the city who are part of the mandal in the age group of 18-45 years. All of us are working class from a peon to a C. A and engineer is part of the mandal. After rigorous coaching from past 17 years and also proper consultation from the orthopaedics,” added Dhawale.

“The height restrictions should be removed and there should be liberty given to Govindas to enjoy the festive mood. If one has to fall from the human pyramid they may fall from any feet and get injured,” said one of the Govindas.