Janmashtami: The festival that is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm

By Eugene Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

22 August 2011: Sri Krishna is today one of the most widely revered and most popular of all Hindu Gods. He is worshipped as the eighth incarnation or avatar of Lord Vishnu. Krishna is also worshipped as a supreme god in his own right by numerous sects around the world.

 

 

Sri Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Sri Krishna Jayanti, Gokulashtami and Krishnashtami, celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna.  This year Janmashtami is celebrated on two separate  days in different parts of India: In North India and Gujarat Dwarakadish Temple Krishna Janmashtami Mahotsav  is celebrated on  August 22 midnight from 11:30 PM onwards. In North India it is observed as Janmashtami Vrat  on August 22; on August 21 day and midnight in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and eastern parts of India the festival is celebrated as Sri Krishna Jayanti; in Kerala on  August 21 as Ashtami Rohini; at Sri Krishna Temple Udupi on August 22 as Vittal Pindi; in Maharashtra on August 22 as ‘Dahi Handi’ and Goplakala and in Goa on August 22 as Kalo.

 

In Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai, Janmashtami is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm culminating in adventurous event of  ‘braking of buttermilk pot’ known as ‘Dahi Handi’. Dahi Handi generally takes place on the second day of Janmashtami.  It is a clay pot filled with buttermilk  that is hung  at a convenient height  prior to the event. The height varies depending on the prize money involved.

 

Enthusiastic and adventurous young men form a human pyramid up to eeitht to nine level trying to break the pot with the coconut. Onlookers throw water on the young men in order to prevent them from breaking the pot. Breaking of the pot is followed by prize distribution.

 

Various ‘Dahi Handis’ are set up locally in several parts of the city and groups of youngsters, called ‘govindas’, move around in trucks trying to break as many ‘Dahi Handis’ as possible during the day. Many such ‘Govinda Groups’ compete with each other, as many political parties and community groups set aside hefty sums of money running into lakhs of rupees as reward for the ‘Govinda Groups’ who are successful in breaking the ‘Dahi Handis’.

 

 

The adventurous event like forming human pyramids to break the ‘Dahi Handi’ is beset with danger. In the process of forming the human pyramids, the groups have to repeat their act many times as even a single member losing balance causes the collapse of the human pyramid. There had been instances of young men losing their balance and falling to the ground  suffering serious injuries and in few cases even losing their lives.   On this day, the hospitals in cities gear up to face such eventualities.

 

However, it should be noted that in spite of  possible injuries, young men, and  in certain cases even young women do not waver from taking part in such adventurous ‘Dahi Handi’ breaking competitions. These ‘Govinda Groups’ undergo rigorous training prior to Janmashtami in their respective sports clubs to prepare themselves for any eventuality as they become centre of focus as thousands of people witness ‘Dahi Handi’ events. Besides, adventurous spirit and huge amount of prize money keep them going from one part of the suburb to the other, from one ‘Dahi Handi’ to another on the Janmashtami day.

 

 

Accrding to a report, for the first time, the Spanish group ’Castellers de Villafranca’, which holds a world record for building a 10-level human pyramid, will take part in the Dahi Handi events in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai on August 22, 2011.

 

The 240-member team led by Miquel Ferret has been invited by Thane NGO ’Sangharsh’ and will compete with Mumbai’s well-known Dahi Handi teams – Jai Jawan Mandal, Goregaon and South Region Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Mazagaon.

 

This year, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation will promote Dahi Handi in a big way as a tourism event by taking domestic and foreign tourists to view the top Govinda celebrations.They will be taken around various Dahi Handis in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai which are known for building eight to nine level pyramids with huge prizes to be won.