NO big rewards at dahi handi events this year

MUMBAI: Even as the courts refused to relax the 20-feet restriction on the height of the human pyramids, dahi handi mandals said they will participate in Janmashtami

MUMBAI: Even as the courts refused to relax the 20-feet restriction on the height of the human pyramids, dahi handi mandals said they will participate in Janmashtami festivities which they said will be subdued.

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Most mandals said they are not offering big rewards. While there will be no prizes for the highest human pyramids, dahi handi teams will get small cash prizes based on the ease with which they created tiers. The restriction on height will allow teams to form at the most four or five human tiers. In the past, teams competed to form nine tiers.

Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik from the Ovala-Majiwada constituency, said, “We have followed the rules last year and we will follow them this year too. Mandals daring to form higher pyramids will not be allowed. We have decided to give out Rs5,000 to Rs25,000 based on the performances of the mandals.”

BJP MLA from Magathane, Prakash Surve, whose Taramati Charitable Trust conducts major dahi handi activities in Borivli, is also keeping it lowkey. “We will offer Rs. 2,000 each to all the participating groups forming five-tier pyramids. We will make sure the Supreme Court’s rules are not broken,” Surve said.

Meanwhile, Ram Kadam, BJP MLA said, “We will organise an ‘addiction-free’ dahi handi this time around. We are in talks to call Anna Hazare to help in the social cause and break the handi himself,” Kadam said. He said that the Supreme Court verdict is welcomed and accepted. “The verdict, however harsh or sweet, has to be accepted. We welcome the verdict and will make sure the order is followed,” he added.

Other politicians have stopped sponsoring the festival. Jitendra Awhad, Thane NCP MLA, who used to organise competitions and offer big cash prizes, has opted out. “We are not going to organise any event. We have stopped completely,” he said.