Dahi Handi OR A Game Competition worth 50L??

Dahi Handi OR A Game Competition worth 50L??

Almost Every Hindu knows Its Janmashtmi today, Lord shree Krishna's B’day and is often celebrated as Dahi Handi across our Nation. Dahi handi is generally a mischievous side of the Lord Krishna's childhood act. Simultaneously there is Ramzan and Shravan, where long fasts are kept by devotees and strict principles are followed as per their religion during these religious days. Similarly Sindhis celebrate the fest of 40 days called Chaliyo. These days, Ganesh Idols have become visible at vendors and shops keepers, where painting is still to be done on the colorless Ganesh idols, Ganesh chaturthi will then be followed by Diwali and ID after September. So it’s actually a season of Festivals that have begun across the Nation.

Dahi handi festival has lost its color over the years. I don’t know Why, but since last few years I couldn’t sense the feeling of celebration in all these festivals. May be Because I can only notice the Improper side of the celebration or Its just my psychological difference in celebrating,, Today Dahi Handi has moved far away from just demonstrating the Lord Krishna's play act, it has become an competition, where Number matters.  These days 'Govinda Ala Re' only mean it has brought Dahi Handi festival and hence competition and money will flow and huge rack of people will be put on break a handi kept at certain height.  Dahi Handi doesn’t mean that the Handi (Pot) should be kept at 50 ft. height, 10ft height suffices demonstration of the act played.  Instead of being just a B’day celebration which should be done on a night before, so called Dahi Handi is celebrated. It’s ridiculous; this doesn’t goes with the traditional way of this day’s celebration. Why celebrities are Invited on such Events?? Tent put on has no religious songs, no Shree Krishna’s Idol (Reason for celebration itself missing and not visible), no Aartis. Just a showoff!!!

People, who actually understand the importance of this day, celebrate on a night before Janmashtmi where a Cuddle is decorated and followed by religious songs and puja's. Celebration of Dahi Handis has just become a repetitive and competitive event; Figures go above 50k and at few places beyond 5Lacs. Who sponsors such Event? A Local political Leader or the Powerful person in respective Locality.  Please note Safety for the Teams participating in the Dahi handi fest is not of a Great Concern!  Why municipal grounds are not used, and Dahi handis are organized in middle of the roads? Therefore, Unnecessarily the roads are blocked and diverted which creates huge traffic blocks and tons of diesel and petrol wasted like anything.

I am not against the Festival; I am against the way it is celebrated. Huge Tents are put on the roads, blocking the road, hence making it difficult for people to walk. More over tents have no Idol to demonstrate its Lord B’day celebration, it is full of Political leaders and Item numbers who perform dance or enact with some performances... Is this called Devotional Celebration!!! Please it’s not a Celebration; it’s just promotional event for the local political party and for Fun to some 100 set of people participating there and those who got Idle time to watch the drama.

By the way, Who pays for Electricity used in these tents? Is there any accountability for the electricity used?  Are All Dahi Handis Audited in terms of Expenditure and Revenue?  Most of Roads are blocked and diverted? Is diverted route enough to carry the vehicle load being transferred?? Is the legal permission taken?

All these happen on account of a Devotional day, and moreover Lord's B’day is celebrated in this way. People’s Perception has changed from Devotion to Celebration; Traditional Way is Modernized to make people Happy, without Preserving the Motive...