Pots of Money or Curd?

Gokulasthami is one of the major festivals celebrated in Maharashtra and in recent times, politicians (who are widely seen as taking mileage out of the festival) have been competing with each other to attract larger crowds. “Big money tends to boost the egos of the party cadre. It has now become a prestige issue for politicians. “Politicians also cash in on media coverage given to rich mandals”. This festival is popular among the youth, who are the backbone of a political party, and this festival acts as the best platform to attract them. Politicians of all hues in Maharashtra are vying with each other to announce huge prize money for breaking the `Dahi Handis' (curd pots tied at a height to be broken by competing youngsters) here on the occasion of Gokulashtami, one of the most popular festivals.

Those organising the dahi handi festival in the city do not seem to have been affected by the global economic slowdown. The Gokulasthami is the biggest festival this year because many mandals have doubled the prize money. For politicians, the festival is the best opportunity to display their clout, which they do through the Dahi Handi mandals they run.

This year NCP MLA Jitendra Avhad, MNS legislator Ram Kadam, Minister and NCP leader Sachin Ahir, Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik, Minority welfare minister Naseem Khan, Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam, NCP leader Pratap Surve were in top list to organise Dahi Handi competitions, offering generous amounts of prize money to the govindas.

Govinda mandals need to form nine or ten-tier pyramids to break most of the pots and walk away with the prizes. Apart from the big ones there are hundreds of other smaller `Dahi Handis' which are organised across the metropolis.

A year's hiatus due to the outbreak of swine flu last year seems to have added vigour to the Dahi Handi festival this year. With the stakes getting higher, the levels of pyramids are inching further upwards and the political fanfare is going overboard. Almost every political party has two-three leaders organising Dahi Handi competitions, offering generous amounts of prize money to the govindas.

This year Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe's nearly 80-year-old handi at Tembi Naka has a golden rim worth Rs 3 lakh. On the other hand, Awhad's NGO Sangharsh has three gold-plated handis up for grabs.

Politicians have also roped in film stars to add to the glamour quotient. While Awhad has roped in Akshay Kumar, Sarnaik has invited Prachi Desai and Aftab Shivdasani to break the handis.

Organisers are also ensuring the safety of govindas by keeping ambulances on standby. Some of them are also providing free insurance policies to govindas and top of that Shiv Sena leader has promised to provide employment opportunities to the govindas.

Govinda mandals, however, are not impressed with the increase in prize money, because they hardly get a fraction of the prize money. Most of the mandal’s say organisers announce grand prizes for eight, nine and ten-tier human pyramids, which are impossible to achieve for most Govindas [those who form human pyramids to reach the pot]. “Many mandals tend to subtract the expenses of the band or music system and refreshments and they hardly get half. Also there are many incidences where cheques often bounce and after the festival organisers make them run around for the prize money.