The state has come up with a government resolution for the same
Mumbai : School education and sports minister Vinod Tawde announced on Wednesday that the state government has come up with a government resolution (GR) stating ‘dahi handi’, which entails a human pyramid, to be an adventure sport that teaches physical stamina, team spirit and a never-say-die attitude.
Once the GR is promulgated, dahi handi will be a part of physical training classes in schools and colleges throughout the year. The government is forming a state-level committee that will formulate the rules of the game and organise competitions across the state.
Dahi handi, a famous festival ritual in Mumbai, came under the scanner after several people fell down from the human pyramid, resulting in broken bones, on Gokulashtami, birthday celebrations of Lord Krishna.
There are reports that children who were assigned to the top of the pyramid fell down and succumbed to their injuries. Last year, the high court had issued directions on maintaining the safety of Govindas, those who make up the human pyramid.
Earlier, the state had appointed a committee headed by legislator Ashish Shelar to study previous dahi handi incidents and suggest rules to turn it into an adventure sport. The committee submitted its report, which included the suggestions and objections of Govinda pathaks.
Tawde said, “We have studied the report and on the face of it, we have announced dahi handi as an adventure sport under the state sports policy.”
The sports department is forming a governing body for this sport, which will create the rules of the game. These rules will be binding on all Gonvinda teams — otherwise, it would be considered illegal and action will be taken against the organiser.
According to the guidelines, the safety of the players is the responsibility of the team leader and the organiser. The players should be equipped with helmets, chest guards, safety harnesses and safety belts. Every player should have insurance cover and the same will be the responsibility of the team leader. In the same way, the organiser should have an insurance cover for the event.
There should not be any member below the age of 12 years and, further, there should be a compulsory undertaking from the parents of children between the age group of 12 to 15. Like any other sport, in dahi handi, too, the player should participate in the game taking responsibility for himself.
