Dahihandi is a festival celebrated on the second day of Shrikrishna Janmashtami. This festival of Janmashtami is celebrated as a symbol of the birth of Lord Krishna. During Dahihandi, youngsters form a team and participate in it. Nowadays, various circles from each section place a pot filled with curd (small size pots) on the height during this festival. These pots try to break up various circles of youth. This is a kind of game. In which prizes are also given. Dahihandi is celebrated every year in the month of August-September.
Why is Dahihandi celebrated?
Dahihandi is celebrated with great fanfare on the occasion of the birth of Balgopal Shrikrushna. As a child, Lord Krishna loved curd, milk, and butter. To protect the curd from Krishna, Yashoda used to place the curd pot in a high place or on a shaky, but Lord Krishna could reach there. For this, his friends were helping him. Dahihandi is celebrated everywhere to c commemorate this event.
Dahi handi festival is celebrated all over India. At this time, Dahihandi is celebrated in different places all over India according to different religious traditions. Dahihandi is also organized by ISKCON in different parts of the country; it has taken the form of a festival in some places.
Dahihandi is most popular in Maharashtra. This festival is celebrated in Pune, Mumbai(Juhu), with great joy and enthusiasm. The enthusiasm of the youth participating in this festival is commendable. Many groups of young people try to break one curd at a time. At this time, with the announcement of ' Govinda Aala Re, 'the surrounding area is buzzing.
Shrikrushna's birthplace Mathura:
This festival is also celebrated with great enthusiasm in Mathura. This is where Krishna devotees from all over the country come together and celebrate this festival with reverence. At this time, Mathura is decorated so that the beauty of this place is enhanced. The whole city was holy.
Vrindavan is also a holy land for devotees of Lord Krishna. There are many temples of Lord Krishna in this place. Dahihandi is celebrated in the entire Vrindavan by these temples as the purpose is to remember the Leela of Lord Krishna.
How to celebrate Dahihandi
The curd process is gratifying. It is held on the second day of Shrikrishna Janmashtami. On this day, the pot is filled with curd, butter, sweets, fruits, etc., hung in a high place. Various young congregations try to break this. To break the curds, youngsters from different circles climb on each other backs and build human towers.
Govinda is on the top floor of this tower. He breaks the pot while maintaining this balance. Circles that break pots are honored with various gifts. In Mumbai, Govindas and Gopikas also participate in this festival. Many congregations have only girls.
These girls show the same courage as the boys and break the pots layer by layer.
Problems related to Dahihandi festival
Often young people who try to break the yogurt fall off the floor and get injured. It can also affect the life of the blower. In 2012, about 225 Govindas were injured. For this, the Maharashtra government has prepared some rules:
In 2014, the Maharashtra government issued a decree that children below 12 should not participate in Dahihandi. Thereafter, the high court has fixed the age limit to at least 18 years. Govinda participating in Dahihandi should have complete 18 years of age.
In 2017, the Mumbai High Court clarified that children below 14 would not be allowed to participate in Dahi handi. The court had earlier imposed restrictions on the height of the strata, but in 2017 it was relaxed.
The state government told the Mumbai High Court that children under 14 would not participate in the Dahihandi competition under the child labor act(1986). The count did not specify the height limit of the human tower to be constructed for the curd.
I hope this article is helpful and gives you some knowledge about Lord Krishna and the festival Dahihandi. To know more about this festival, you can visit the following website wiki/Dahi_Handi History and significance of Dahihandi.
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