No Dahi Handi, Maha CM Thackeray urges mandals to focus on health initiatives

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday urged organisers of the upcoming Dahi Handi festival to prioritise health amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic and put aside festivities for a short time .

Thackeray, who spoke to members of coordination committees that organise the famed Dahi Handi festival across the state to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, said the coronavirus pandemic has forced various restrictions on the lifestyle of individuals .

The chief minister’s office later said the organisers had responded positively to Thackeray’s request to require welfare initiatives rather than observing the festivities and becoming susceptible to the virus.

During the meeting, state Covid-19 task force chief Dr Sanjay Oak said physical distancing can’t be maintained during Dahi Handi celebrations as people are available close contact with one another while forming human pyramids. “Face masks are of no use if they get wet in water. The Delta plus variant is spreading fast. albeit one person is infected, the whole group runs the danger of catching the COVID-19 infection,” he said. He asked organisers to stay the festive spirit by organising camps to donate blood and COVID-19 treatment equipment.

Thackeray said the second wave of the pandemic was receding in some districts of Maharashtra, but peaking in another places. “This may be a window period which we’ve to utilise to make sure that the livelihood of individuals isn’t impacted and therefore the economic cycle continues,” he added.

Speaking about protests over the restrictions, Thackeray said, “These curbs are meant for the welfare of individuals . Only a couple of people speak of protesting against these restrictions. they ought to rather protest against coronavirus and not against the govt ,” he said.

The BJP has demanded Dahi Handi festival be allowed to be organised under certain conditions traditionally.”Those who have taken both doses of COVID-19 vaccines must be allowed to organise the normal Dahi Handi at low heights without crowding. The festival shouldn’t be banned,” BJP MLA Ashish Shelar said. Thackeray reiterated that a lockdown will need to be imposed again if the daily demand for medical oxygen crosses 750 metric tonnes in Maharashtra

The chief minister said the whole world is reeling under the pandemic which has destroyed many families and orphaned children. “Countries which have vaccinated most of their citizens are feeling the warmth of a 3rd wave of the pandemic and are locked down again,” he said.

The Dahi Handi festival involves communities hanging an earthen pot crammed with dahi (yogurt) or other milk-based delicacies, at a convenient or difficult to succeed in height. Young men, boys and girls form teams, make a person’s pyramid and plan to reach or break the pot. The festival enjoys a political patronisation in Maharashtra with various parties organising Dahi Handis and announcing a gift for Govindas, who break the pots.