Dahi Handi mandals to challenge Supreme Court’s restrictions

Dahi handi organisers in Mumbai said that they will challenge the Supreme Court order restricting the age limit of participants to 18 years and height of human pyramids

Dahi handi organisers in Mumbai said that they will challenge the Supreme Court order restricting the age limit of participants to 18 years and height of human pyramids to 20 feet.

Indian youth form a human pyramid to break the "Dahi handi," an earthen pot filled with curd, to mark Janmashtami celebrations at Kalyan in Mumbai. (Rishikesh Choudhary/Hindustan Times)

Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak, the Jogeshwari team which shares the world record for erecting the highest human pyramid of nine tiers with a Spanish group, said they will file a fresh petition in the court on Wednesday. Janmashtami will be celebrated on Thursday.

Sandeep Dhawle, the coach of the mandal, said, “We will file a petition tomorrow. It would only be opposing the height restrictions. If the court doesn’t agree to it, we can do nothing but obey the rules.”

Mahesh Sawant, a team member of Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak, said they were disappointed with the apex court order. “Rest everything is fine, but the height restriction is a bit too much. It was they who had earlier declared the activity as a sport. We had been practising for over two months when they suddenly give a verdict against the usual festivities,” he said.