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'Uncomfortable violating rules', prominent Govinda mandal follows Maharashtra government order

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File pic: A group of youngsters rehearse for the Ganeshotsav celebration
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Most of the prominent Govinda mandals seem to be heading for a confrontation with authorities on the ban of children under 12 years old participating in Dahi Handi celebrations.

However, one of the mandals has decided to follow this rule. The Jari Mari Govinda Patak (Mangalwadi), Girgaum, will not permit any child below 12 years of age to participate.

The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights recently passed the order. Most mandals reacted sharply and stated that they had not been consulted on the same and that practice sessions have been in full swing.

"We will follow the rules and have decided not to allow a nine-year-old to participate. We are not comfortable doing anything outside the rule and the parents too were not keen, keeping in mind the safety of their child," said Rahul Pawar, coach of the Jari Mari Govinda Patak.

Children participation is popular during Dahi Handi celebrations because they are lighter in weight and those on the lower layers of the pyramid can easily carry them. Jari Mari have won Rs2 lakhs at Jambori Maidan, Worli where NCP leader Sachin Ahir organises the Dahi Handi. At Tembinaka, the group has stood first alone or has shared the price in the last four years of the festival. dna called Dahihandi Utsav Samanvay Samiti (DUSS), an umbrella body of the mandals, but the representatives did not take calls.

Poonam Mahajan, BJP MP from Mumbai north-west constituency, has written a letter to Maneka Gandhi, minister for women and child development. The letter seeks an effective ban on the children below 12 years old from being part of the troupe.

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