PIL seeks ban on participation of children in dahi handi competitions

Mumbai, July 30 (ANI): A public Interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking a ban on participation of minors in dahi handis, a popular way of celebrating Janmashtami in Maharashtra.

The Support India Foundation, Mumbai, filed the PIL two weeks ahead of Janmashtami celebrations. The court would take up the hearing on Friday.

According to Gita Singh Director of the Foundation, her NGO found out through Right to information Act (RTI) that nearly hundred children were injured during this competition.

Dahi handi is a competition of breaking a clay pot containing curd, is generally organized during the celebration of Janmashtami in Maharashtra.

The human pyramids were made to reach the clay pot, some time the human pyramid goes up to the heights of 5 storey building, and almost every pyramid has a child at the highest level as they are easy to carry and swift to climb.

Foundation's counsel Khushnumha Khan said, the potential for injuries is severs when a child falls from a height of nearly 50 feet, and most of the children suffered major injuries to the head, limbs and chest.

Singh made it clear that the PIL seeks to ban the participation of children in the formation of human pyramid during this competition and not the ban on dahi handi competition itself.

She added that the society should be more sensitive and aware about the physical harm the children suffer due to the fall.

One of the main attractions of dahi handi is the big prize money running into lakhs of rupees. Most of the Maharashtra Politicians sponsor these competitions .(ANI)