This Janmashtami, Mumbai's oldest dahi kala mandal, the Bandya Maruti Seva Mandal, founded in 1950 by residents of the BDD Chawls, Delisle Road, celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Preserving Girangaon’s Culture for 75 Years
The group was created by families of mill workers living in chawls number 16 and 17. They received support from the Baba Sakti Seva Mandal and community leader Babanrao Daravkar, who later became a Shiv Sena corporator. The organisation aimed to gather the youth of Girangaon, Mumbai's mill district, for training in sports, academic, and social qualities, said Ganesh Sapte, member and coach. Giran means loom in Marathi, and gaon is village. The mandal has been preserving this rich culture for the past 75 years, said Praful Atyalkar, secretary of the group. The Amrit Jubilee celebrations are being done under the guidance of the chairman of the board, Nivrutti Desai.
Janmashtami at the Heart of Celebrations
Apart from the social and academic activities, the group celebrates religious festivals, and a major event in their annual calendar is Shri Krishna Janmashtmi. The festival begins on Janmashtami day at midnight, when Lord Krishna's birthday is celebrated at the temple of Lord Shri Hanuman located in the housing colony. An image of Lord Krishna in a cradle is worshipped. This is followed by the ritual breaking of dahi handis, pots of curd, at the homes of four senior members of the group. A procession is taken out to proclaim the birth of Lord Shri Krishna.
Dahi Kala and the Art of the Pyramid
Celebrations begin again at 9.00 AM with a puja at the temple, followed by dahi kala celebrations. Preparations start a month in advance, when the team practices the art of forming human pyramids to reach the Dahi Handi, or the pot of curd, in a ritual that enacts the childhood pranks of Lord Krishna.
From Foot Processions to Truck Parades
The group started its journey under the guidance of Shankar Bedi Master, the team's first coach. In 1972, the mandal achieved the feat of creating a six-tier human pyramid, a record at that time. After this achievement, the group received invitations to enact the acrobatic feats at venues in Worli, Dadar, and Thane. In its early days, the members went to various venues on foot, accompanied by a music band. As the festival picked up popularity, the teams traveled on trucks. The team now has between 250 and 300 members.
