'I only take orders from Raj Thackeray': man organising 49-feet Dahi Handi
Mumbai: Dahi Handi celebrations to mark Krishna Janmashtami got off to a colourful start in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra on Thursday, with some 'mandals' allegedly flouting the 20-foot ceiling for human pyramids mandated by the Supreme Court.
14 'Govindas' were injured while trying to break Dahi Handi, necessitating a visit to the hospital. 10 of them have been discharged, said ANI.
In a glaring example of flouting Supreme Court orders, a 49-feet Dahi Handi was strung up in Thane on Thursday morning.
According to an NDTV report, Avinash Jadhav, the man organising Janamashtmi celebrations in the area said he only takes orders from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.
Thackeray had earlier lashed out at the Supreme Court order banning Dahi Handis taller than 20 feet, and said that the festival will be observed "the way it's meant to be."
"The Supreme Court cannot dictate how we celebrate our festivals. If I break the law then I am willing to go to jail for this," Avinash Jadhav was quoted as saying.
Thackeray will visit the area on Thursday evening for the Dahi Handi. Policemen posted there have watched the handi being prepared all morning but have not intervened so far, said the report. an MNS worker also wore a shirt that read, "Mee Kayda Modnar" (I will break the law).
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court refused to rethink its order that the height of the Handi should be no more than 20 feet. The apex court had also banned those below 18 from participating in the festival.
But the 49-feet Handi seeks to break a world record - that set by a Mumbai-based group few years ago when they installed a Handi which was 43 feet tall.
In suburban Dadar, some Dahi Handi mandal members lay on ground and performed a 'sleeping pyramid' exceeding the court norm of 20 feet. While another mandal used a ladder to break the traditional 'pot' and also displayed a black flag apparently to protest against the SC ruling on the festival.
A fresh plea was filed in the apex court by Jai Jawan Krida Mandal Govinda Pathak in a last ditch attempt to get over the restriction.
The organisation argued that as youths below 18 years of age have been barred from participating in the Dahi Handi ritual, the cap on the height of the human pyramid should be relaxed as adventure is part of every sport. The Supreme Court was, however, unconvinced by the argument.
With over 3,300 mandals organising their own Dahi Handi competitions across Mumbai and adjoining areas, police said they will video-record the proceedings to ensure that the Supreme Court order is not violated.
Police issued notices to organisers informing them of the apex court order and are video recording every human pyramid.
