angshu0105
Soaring like a Bird
Dahi Handi is a popular activity in Maharshtra, held during Janmashtami & commemorating the antics of a young Lord Krishna. This time around, due to health cautions regarding Swine Flu, the Handi festival in Mumbai was much muted.
The plan for Dahi Handi begins much before Janmashtami. Contribution is collected from every household in the locality. The day after Janmashtami, women buy large amounts of flattened rice (poha), curds, sugar and pickles. The poha, curds and sugar are mixed together to form dahi-poha, a dish that was said to be a favourite of Lord Krishna. A large earthen pot is then filled with dahi-poha . Tangy pickle is placed in the centre. The pot is decorated on the outside with flowers and leaves. As an added incentive, currency notes are tied to the pot. Now it is ready as the mouth-watering prize. You can see the pot on the top right.
Human Pyramid: This pot is hung high up in an open ground, 30 to 50 feet above ground level. It is a challenge to the youth of the locality to claim this pot. The youth too are ready for the challenge and have practiced their skills.
As soon as the pot was hung, they arrived at the ground. The group (called Govindas!)measure up the pot hanging high, gauged its height and began to form a human pyramid to reach it. But the task is not easy. Ignoring the slippery bodies the boys went on adding tier after tier to their pyramid. Finally, the smallest boy climbed like a cat over the bodies of his friends forming the pyramid. He reached the summit, his frail boady, appearing from below like a bird about to fly away...
Soaring like a Bird
Dahi Handi is a popular activity in Maharshtra, held during Janmashtami & commemorating the antics of a young Lord Krishna. This time around, due to health cautions regarding Swine Flu, the Handi festival in Mumbai was much muted.
The plan for Dahi Handi begins much before Janmashtami. Contribution is collected from every household in the locality. The day after Janmashtami, women buy large amounts of flattened rice (poha), curds, sugar and pickles. The poha, curds and sugar are mixed together to form dahi-poha, a dish that was said to be a favourite of Lord Krishna. A large earthen pot is then filled with dahi-poha . Tangy pickle is placed in the centre. The pot is decorated on the outside with flowers and leaves. As an added incentive, currency notes are tied to the pot. Now it is ready as the mouth-watering prize. You can see the pot on the top right.
Human Pyramid: This pot is hung high up in an open ground, 30 to 50 feet above ground level. It is a challenge to the youth of the locality to claim this pot. The youth too are ready for the challenge and have practiced their skills.
As soon as the pot was hung, they arrived at the ground. The group (called Govindas!)measure up the pot hanging high, gauged its height and began to form a human pyramid to reach it. But the task is not easy. Ignoring the slippery bodies the boys went on adding tier after tier to their pyramid. Finally, the smallest boy climbed like a cat over the bodies of his friends forming the pyramid. He reached the summit, his frail boady, appearing from below like a bird about to fly away...