The fresh plea was filed by Mumbai-based Jai Jawan Krida Mandal Govinda Pathak, that argued that now that the youth below 18 years of age have been barred from participating in the Dahi Handi ritual, the cap on the height of the human pyramid should be relaxed as adventure is part of every sport. Our Govindas had been practising for the last four weeks… To save citizens from traffic jam and crowd, the police will set up barricades on roads and streets, Mr Dudhe said. But now we have to follow the order and try to enjoy the festival with the given mandate. The Apex Court’s order last Wednesday banning participation by those below 18 in the pyramids and limiting the height to 20 feet had come on a petition by the state government challenging this height fixed by the Bombay High Court. There is no point to keep the record (Guinness certificate) with us. “Though we may not take immediate action during the game as it may hurt public sentiments, every group’s modus operandi will be recorded”, said a police officer.
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The Supreme Court had earlier refused to relax conditions put by the Bombay High Court like barring youths below 18 years of age from participating in the Dahi Handi ritual of the Janmashtami festival in Maharashtra and capping the height of the human pyramid at 20 feet. Are you getting an Olympic medal also for this? “I would have been happy if it had brought any medal”, Justice Dave said, adding that this ritual sometimes caused serious injuries to participants, especially in their spinal chord.
“No, we are not modifying it (ceiling) for the time being…to increase the height is very scary”, it remarked.
The height of human pyramid can not be exceeded limit of 20 feet following the rejection of plea seeking modification of restriction in Maharashtra. Moreover, it has been claimed that 1500 people got injured in this function a year ago.
“All the traffic police officers have been asked to be on the ground and more importantly, around dahi handi venues”.
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Appearing for the Maharashtra government and stating that he was not supporting the applicant Trust, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench: “If height is fixed, then this sport (Dahi Handi) will lose meaning”. More than 2,000 Dahi Handi mandals will celebrate the festival on Thursday.
