Twitter
Advertisement

Govinda mandals oppose ban on kids in human pyramids

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

It is the quintessential heart-in-the-mouth Gokulashtami moment when one sees children of five or six old standing atop a swaying human pyramid – several feet above the ground – saluting and breaking the dahi handi.

It seems as if Mumbai might not have seen the last of it. Few days after the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) banned participation of children below 14 in Gokulashtami human pyramids, govinda mandals are up in arms against the order.

The Dahihandi Utsav Samanvay Samiti (DUSS), an umbrella body of over 1,200 mandals from city, Thane and Navi Mumbai, is weighing various options to get the restriction revoked.
Mandals often use kids as they are lightweight. However, several kids fall down every year and sustain serious injuries.

Surendra Panchal, officer bearer of DUSS and the coach of Navmahrashtra Krida Mandal, Tardeo, said, "We don't know under which law they have banned children from participating in dahi handi. We are studying the legal aspect of it. We will try our best to get the ban struck down at least this year."

Panchal said mandals too are concerned about the safety of children and that is the reason they provide them protective gear and take adequate precautions. He said, "We do not randomly pick kids for the job. We check their physical fitness and in some cases, participants are asked to join a gym."

This year, dahi handi will be celebrated on August 18 and most of the mandals have started practising from Gurupoornima (July 12). On an average, a mandal has nearly 500 members and each of them breaks at least a dozen handis during the event.

Bal Padelkar, another DUSS office bearer, said, "Some of the mandals have suggested that we approach the Bombay High Court. However, we have decided to first meet the chief minister, deputy CM and the sports minister to request them allow us to include children beyond five in the human pyramid."

The MSCPCR had passed its order after Pawan Pathak, a resident of Saki Naka, complained that Govinda mandals were endangering the lives of many children due to the lure of big prizes promised by political parties that organise these festivities.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement