Aurangabad to host annual dahi handi' celebrations

AURANGABAD: To mark the Janmashtami celebrations, Marathwada is all set to witness the launch of a mega annual event Yugandhar Dahi Handi Mahotsav' in Aurangabad on September 2.
The Mahotsav will see teams, known as Govinda Pathaks', participating in dahi handi' breaking ceremonies. "The competition is open for all teams across Marathwada and it will be held at the Kokanwadi chowk," said convenor Sanjay Shirsath, Shiv Sena MLA from the Aurangabad East constituency.
Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, while dahi handi' is observed the next day.It is an enactment of Krishna's efforts to steal butter from a matka (earthen pot) suspended from the ceiling.
"Dahi handi is very popular in Mumbai and Thane. Since it gives a message of cultural amity, we have decided to make it an annual affair here," Shirsath said.
The Govinda Pathak forming nine layers of human pyramid to break the handi will be presented Rs 1.51 lakh, while those forming eight layers, will win a prize of Rs 1.21 lakh and those forming seven layers, will receive a cash price of Rs 1,11,111, he said. Noted cine artiste, Sayaji Shinde, has been invited to give away the prizes, he added.
"Earlier, dahi handi' celebrations were being held only at two places Raja Bazaar and Begumpura that, too, on a smaller scale," said Raju Vaidya, organising committee president.
A Shiv Sena corporator, Vaidya said, "We have also decided to give Rs 5,000 to each of the participants to encourage maximum participation in the event."
Jagdish Siddh, another Sena corporator, whose team is getting ready to participate in the event, said, "We started preparations about a month ago. We expect competition from at least 12 teams. Though it is difficult to make a nine-layer pyramid, we have set a target to achieve that goal."