According to Ajinkya Naik, president, south-central Mumbai for the MNVS, the main objective this year is to ensure that the young generation comes face to face with traditional values.
With the dahi handi festival known to pull in crowds, organisers and govinda groups find the celebrations a perfect time to convey social messages to the masses. They take up social issues which affect Mumbaikars on a daily basis and try to publicise it.
According to Ajinkya Naik, president, south-central Mumbai for the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS), the main objective this year is to ensure that the young generation comes face to face with traditional values.
“Our generation lives in a competitive world, where there is a need to preserve our traditional roots. Our dahi handis will try to bring forth those traditional values,” said Naik.
Shiv Sena corporator Sunil Prabhu will use the opportunity to spread environmental awareness. “We will campaign for a plastic-free environment. Also, we will take up the issue of curbing spread of malaria and the measures that need to be taken during an outbreak,” said Prabhu.
While Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Avhad’s mega dahi handi in Thane will spread the message of ‘unity in diversity’, NCP minister Sachin Ahir’s dahi handi in Worli will campaign for ‘Green Mumbai’. At Ahir’s handi, each govinda group, attempting to break the handi, will be given a tree sapling.
“Our boys work hard for 2-3 months to be ready for dahi handi. They exercise regularly to keep themselves fit, and they do not smoke or drink. Isn’t that a social message in itself?” said Bala Padelkar of the Shri Dutta Govinda Mandal from Mazgaon.
According to Padelkar, health is wealth and if today’s youth understands this then there is no need for a separate social message.
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