PIL in Bombay High Court seeks to declare 'dahi handi' as sport

Mumbai, Sept 8: A PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking to declare 'dahi handi' organised on Krishna Janmashtami, comprising human pyramid to break earthen pots filled with curd, as a sport.

The public interest litigation also prayed for a direction to the government to frame guidelines to regulate this ancient practice. Filed by lawyer Ejaz Naqvi, the PIL will come up for hearing next week.

The petition urged the court to direct the government to declare 'dahi handi' as a sport and frame guidelines within a specified period to regulate this practice. It said that whosoever violates the guidelines should be booked for offences under the Cr.Pc and Bombay Police Act.

'Dahi handi' is held once in a year to propitiate Hindu God Krishna.

It said that police permission to hold this sport should be subject to the guidelines framed by the state government. Citing examples of people getting hurt while falling off a human pyramid while trying to break 'dahi handi' the PIL said that the government should take action against the teams, which make untrained children and people participate in this sport.

'Dahi handi' is held once in a year to propitiate Hindu God Krishna, who as a child used to steal butter from earthen pots hung high from the ceiling. This practice to emulate Lord Krishna has now become a regular feature in major cities. The PIL said that it would be in public interest to regulate this sport because many accidents occur while breaking the earthen pots during the festival.

No training is provided to the 'Govindas', who participate in the human pyramids, said the PIL.

PTI