The Dahi Handi Utsav Samanvay Samiti (Duss) remained non-commital on the Dahi Handi celebrations on August 18 in the backdrop of the Bombay high court order. While on one hand it stated that it "respects" and will "follow" the court's order on banning youths under 18 years of age from participating in the festival and not creating pyramids beyond 20 feet height, it also categorically said that it will make pyramids if the Handi height put up by organisers is beyond 20 feet.
This ambiguous stand was pronounced in a chaotic press conference held at the Marathi Patrakar Sangh a day after the high court order. The court on Monday banned Govindas (those forming human pyramids) under the age of 18 years and restricted the height of pyramids to 20 feet. It also asked the government to issue a GR in a day and come out with security measures like cushioning at different layers. After the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights' order banning below 12-year-old Govindas, the recent court order has upset mandals to a greater extent.
"We will respect the court order, but if the organisers put up their handis beyond 20 feet, we will also form pyramids to break them," said Bala Padelkar, president of Duss.
They made the statement when the media cornered the samiti on its statement that "on Dahi Handi day, it should be seen how many layers are formed". Padelkar was joined by advisor and Sena leader, Yashwant Jadhav, and various members of the Samiti along with some Govindas at the press meet. Duss also slammed those organisers who said that they will not be conducting the festival.
"We will ban them and we will back those who are approaching the Supreme Court," added Padelkar.
Jadhav and the Samiti slammed the state and demanded that the government come out with a circular to end the deadlock. "The government had come out with a circular and they should be coming out with one now keeping public sentiments in mind. The government has not kept the side of the samiti before the court despite it repeatedly asking them to do so," said Jadhav. The committee did not sight any previous orders when asked by some media personnel.
When some journalists told Jadhav that it was the over 20-feet height that the court was referring to, he stated that the court's opinion of Dahi Handi is "dhokadayak".
"That is incorrect and the festival has been a 'parampara' and culture," said Jadhav. The Samiti was non-comittal when they were asked about the practice sessions. When asked if they will be forming more then four layers while practising, Padelkar said, "Each mandal has its 'parampara'. Some form three layers, some two and some four. They will form what they have been forming," said Padelkar.
When asked categorically about over four layers, he said they will not be violating court orders.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}