Janmashtami rings in the usual festivities as well as a declaration of Dahi Handi as an official sport

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde introduces “Pro Dahi Handi” as a sport in Maharashtra with players receiving benefits such as jobs and insurance

On the day of the auspicious festival of Janmashtami, the entirety of Maharashtra indulges in the numerous festivities and traditions that come with the day. The highlight of the day, however, has consistently been the event of Dahi Handi. Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna and the event pays tribute to him by emulating the legend of young Krishna’s attempts to steal “makkhan” or butter from neighbouring kitchens. His notoriety and ingenuity in this act led to the neighbours storing their butter in higher places although that was deemed futile when young Krishna found clever ways to retrieve the butter regardless.

Dahi Handi, literally translating to “curd in an earthen pot” is a modern-day recreation of that particular anecdote from Lord Krishna’s childhood. On the day of the festival, clay pots are hung from a considerable height on roads and courtyards across the state, the height increasing as the challenge increases as well. Young Maharashtrians, or rather Govindas, the name they adorn to honour the other name for Krishna, form intricate and sturdy formations that enable them to create human pyramids high enough to obtain their goal- the “makkhan.” This event is received with high praise and cheers wherein a huge crowd of people gather around the participants and provide their support and encouragement. 

While the event holds immense cultural significance to those who celebrate Janmashtami, the sport of it has manifested into something more significant. The players dedicate tremendous time and effort to beat each challenge, this includes the formation of teams, practice for weeks before the event, and combating unfavourable conditions such as heavy rains that occur during Janmashtami each year to receive huge prizes as laurels.

Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, recognises this and hence declared the popular entertainment event of Dahi Handi as an official sport in the state. This proclamation comes as a result of a letter written by the Mumbai-based Dahi Handi Utsav Samanvay Samiti (DHUSS) to Eknath Shinde which requests the chief minister to grant the event the status of an adventure sport. 

“This has been a long pending demand. Rather than playing it only once a year on the day of the festival, we hope for more competitions and events such as pro kabaddi will be organised so that the Govindas can practise, play and have a healthy competition throughout the year,” says DHUSS committee member, Arun Patil. 

This has not, however, been the first attempt by Dahi Handi participants to get the event such recognition. A similar demand was made a few years ago, as a response to which the then BJP Cultural Minister, Vinod Tawde, declared Dahi Handi as an adventure sport but made no move to further pronounce that status and issue any guidelines to execute it to such status. 

There have been multiple amendments to the guidelines of the event, however, unrelated to its status as an adventure sport and to do particularly with the increasing number of severe accidents caused over the years. In response, the Supreme Court put a cap of 20 feet on the height that the “handi” could be placed. For further precaution, in 2017 the Bombay High Court prohibited the participation of children below 14 years of age, a practice that was extremely rampant and deadly. Eknath Shinde’s move, as a recent minister in power, has been received well by the general public. 

While recognising Dahi Handi’s new status, Shinde highlights that Maharashtra will introduce the discipline of “Pro Dahi Handi” and “Govindas,” the participants of the sport, will be eligible to get jobs under Maharashtra’s sports quota. Furthermore, they will be provided with insurance of Rs. 10 lakh.