Latest news with #Gokulashtamifestival
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra: 2 dead, 117 injured in Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai and Thane
Two persons have died and 117 others suffered injuries during the 'Dahi Handi' festival in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane city which drew large crowds of people, including celebrities, officials said. Govindas break the Dahi Handi by forming a human pyramid on the occasion of Gokulashtami festival in Mumbai, India. Aug 16, 2025.(Raju Shinde/HT Photo) In Thane, Bollywood actors Govinda, Chunky Pandey and Sunil Shetty attended the festivities held on Saturday. Some leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also came together to join the celebration, amid speculation of a possible alliance between the two parties for the upcoming local body polls in Maharashtra. Amid the scramble to woo Marathi voters, Dahi Handi celebrations organised by leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT), rival Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Raj Thackeray-headed MNS in Mumbai and neighbouring areas remained steeped in political symbolism. The festival, celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, saw troupes of young men and women forming human pyramids to break dahi handis (pots of curd) suspended in the air with ropes. Rohan Mohan Malvi, part of the Gaondevi Govinda Pathak, fell unconscious while sitting in a tempo at Adarsh Nagar in Mumbai's Andheri area on Saturday, an official said, adding he did not take part in the pyramid formation since he recently suffered a bout of jaundice. "He was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar where doctors declared him dead on arrival," the official said. Earlier, on Saturday afternoon, a 32-year-old man, identified as Jagmohan Shivkiran Chaudhari, fell to death while tying 'Dahi Handi' in Mankhurd in the north eastern part of the metropolis, officials said. "He was tying the handi to a rope from the first-floor window grille of his house in Maharashtra Nagar when he fell. He was taken to the civic-run Shatabdi Govandi Hospital where he was declared brought dead," an official said. Till 9 pm on Saturday, 95 persons were reported to be injured during the festivities in Mumbai, with the condition of two being serious, the official said. "Of the 95 govindas, 76 were discharged after treatment, while 19 are hospitalised. The 95 injured comprise 30 in the island city, 31 in the eastern suburbs and 34 in the western part of the city," he informed. In Thane city, 22 participants were injured while attempting human pyramids, local civic body's disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said. Of them, 17 were admitted to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa, including some who suffered head injuries, shoulder dislocations, waist and chest injuries, he said. An 18-year-old participant, who suffered a head injury, was referred to the state-run J J Hospital in Mumbai for advanced care. Some of the others injured included children in the age group of 5 to 10 years, the official said. Another five persons were admitted to the District Government Hospital in Thane, with injuries ranging from hand fractures to back pain and abrasions, Tadvi said. The festivities drew large crowds at multiple mandals in Thane where actors Govinda, Chunky Pandey and Sunil Shetty joined the celebrations. Actor Govinda danced to some of his popular songs at a Dahi Handi festival gathering in Tembi Naka area of Thane, where Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was also present. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former MP Rajan Vichare and MNS leader Avinash Jadhav came together at festivities organised by the Raj Thackeray's party at Naupada in Thane, and announced their partnership was like "Fevicol ki jodi which cannot be separated by anyone."
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Shiv Sena factions and MNS host Dahi Handi events on Janamashtmi as Maharashtra civic polls loom
Amid a scramble to woo Marathi voters ahead of civic polls, Dahi Handi celebrations organised by leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT), Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and Raj Thackeray-headed MNS in Mumbai and neighbouring areas remained steeped in political symbolism. Govindas break the Dahi Handi by forming a human pyramid on the occasion of Gokulashtami festival in Mumbai, India. Aug 16, 2025.(Raju Shinde/HT Photo) The festival resonated with Maharashtrian ethos through 'Govinda' squads who form human pyramids to break curd-filled earthen pots hung high and provide a platform to reach out to lakhs of people. Although many leaders have been organising Dahi Handi celebrations for several years, the upcoming civic poll has added a new dimension amid the evolving political landscape and realignments. In Thane, a dahi handi event organised by Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik drew large crowds. Amid heavy rains, a 'govinda' team formed a 10-layer pyramid, which Sarnaik claimed was a "world record", and announced a prize of ₹25 lakh for the Konkan Nagar Raja Govinda Team, which achieved the feat. "Earlier, a record of nine layers was set on our stage. Today, govindas of Konkan Nagar achieved ten layers," Sarnaik's son Purvesh, who organised the Thane event, said. Sarnaik's colleague in Shiv Sena and MLA Prakash Surve organised dahi handi in Magathane constituency in north Mumbai. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited several dahi handi mandals in Mumbai, Thane, and Mira-Bhayander. Among MNS leaders, Bala Nandgaonkar organised a dahi handi event in Kalachowkie area of Mumbai with a prize amount of ₹15 lakh, and Ganesh Chukkal in Ghatkopar West. In Thane, MNS city president Avinash Jadhav hosted dahi handi for "Marathi manoos', which was attended by NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad. Leaders of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) didn't lag behind. Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab, MLA Sunil Prabhu organised Dahi Handis in Bandra (East) and Dindoshi, respectively. A similar celebration was organised in Worli, the assembly constituency of Aaditya Thackeray, who has been visiting several dahi handi mandals in Mumbai and the satellite cities. The process for long-awaited elections to civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and local bodies, is expected to start after Diwali.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
32-yr-old 'Govinda' falls to death while tying Dahi Handi in Mumbai; 30 injured citywide
A 32-year-old man fell to his death while tying 'Dahi Handi' in Mumbai's Mankhurd on Saturday afternoon, PTI reported. Govindas break the Dahi Handi by forming a human pyramid on the occasion of Gokulashtami festival in Mumbai's Dadar on August 16, 2025.(HT photo/ Raju Shinde) According to a civic official, Jagmohan Shivkiran Chaudhari was tying the 'Dahi Handi' to a rope from the first-floor window grille of his house in Maharashtra Nagar when he fell. He was taken to the civic-run Shatabdi Govandi Hospital, where he was declared brought dead, the official said, according to PTI. Besides this incident, at least 30 other people taking part in the formation of human pyramids synonymous with the celebrations were injured across the city. According to officials, fifteen of the 30 were hospitalised, while the remaining were discharged after treatment. The thirty injured persons comprise 18 from the island city, and six each from the eastern and western parts of the metropolis, the officials said. Earlier this week, an 11-year-old died in Mumbai after falling during a practice session ahead of the Dahi Handi event during Janmashtami. The incident occurred on Sunday night when the victim, Mahesh Ramesh Jadhav, suffered a head injury after a fall in Mumbai's Dahisar area. His fall to the ground was not prevented by a mattress, other humans, or a helmet. Following the incident, the boy's mother, Sangeetha, filed a complaint with the Dahisar police, who booked the Mandal president booked for negligence. Dahi Handi festivals are celebrated every year across India to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. This year, the festival will fall on August 16, and people are already practising the formation of multi-tiered human pyramids to break Dahi Handi. As reported by HT, the state government in July had announced insurance coverage to 1.5 lakh Govindas participating in Dahi Handi festivities through Oriental Insurance Company. In case of death during the sport, a maximum payout of ₹10 lakh was assured to the kin of the deceased. Children below the age of 14 years are not allowed to take part in Dahi Handis, as per the state government's statement which was accepted by the Bombay high court in 2017.
