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Why curb on festivals celebrated by Hindus? Raj Thackeray questions new 'dahi handi' rule

Raj Thackeray has strongly criticized the Court's ruling on the height of the human pyramid for dahi handi.

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Decrying the Supreme Court (SC) restriction on the height of human pyramids in the dahi handi festival, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray questioned why curbs were imposed only on festivals celebrated by Hindus.

"The court is increasingly getting involved in everything…who gave them the right to take these decisions?" questioned Raj while speaking to the media on Thursday, while admitting that it was not right to have blaring noise and loudspeakers during such festivals.

Reacting to the 20-ft height restriction for the human pyramid, Raj questioned if they should "climb on stools and break the handi?" He pointed out that instead, the court could have laid down a code for mandals who participate in the festival on lines of some troupes like those led by former MNS MLA Bala Nandgaonkar which take safety measures.

"These issues are brought in every time for festivals celebrated by Hindus… Where don't accidents take place?" he questioned, adding that the state government had failed to put forth its side properly in the apex court. Raj demanded that the state approach the Centre for a remedy and pointed to how the festival was unique to Maharashtra and particularly Mumbai.

On Wednesday, the SC had upheld the Bombay High Court's decision to ban those below the age of 18 years from participating in the dahi handi festival and restricting the height of the human pyramid to 20 feet.

In Maharashtra, especially in the Mumbai-Thane belt, the festival — which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna — is used by politicians who promise lakhs of rupees to troupes for breaking handis tied at dizzying heights and expand their political reach.

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