Mumbai/New Delhi: With Maharashtra accounting for bulk of swine flu deaths and infections, the popular 'dahi handi' ritual that draws huge crowds during the Janmasthamai celebrations has become a casualty, as Shiv Sena appealed for low-key festivities this Friday.
Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray appealed to people to celebrate Janmashtami at home and desist from crowding the streets in the wake of the spread of the deadly H1N1 virus.'Dahi handi' is only next in popularity to the Ganesha festival.
Uddhav said health has to be the first priority and people should restrain from indulging in big celebrations to avoid crowds, Sena spokesperson Neelam Ghore told PTI in Mumbai.
NCP legislator Jeetendra Awhad, who organises the popular 'dahi handi' in neighbouring Thane, said he had spoken to Uddhav and had agreed there should be no crowds and revelry.
The impact of swine flu on festivities also had an echo in the Supreme Court. A PIL was filed seeking a ban on celebrating 'Ganesh Utsav' and 'Dahi Handi' festivals in Maharashtra in view of the spread of swine flu. The Ganesh festivities commence on August 23.
However, the apex court refused to grant an early hearing on the petition filed by Advocate Dilip Anna Saheb Taur.
With the long festival season round the corner, the spread of swine flu has become a real dampener, especially in Maharashtra and Gujarat, according to festival organisers.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi also appealed to people to avoid "large congregations".
The dahi handi, which draws a sea of humanity, is a game where human pyramids are formed to reach a yoghurt-filled earthen pot strung high re-enacting an episode from the childhood of Lord Krishna, whose birth anniversary is celebrated on Janmashtami.
"We are all of the opinion that there is no need to make it legally binding on people to stay indoors. However through media and otherwise we would like to tell everyone to avoid large congregations and take preventive measures," Modi said.
In the 'dahi handi' ritual, people forming pyramids try to reach and break the pot to strains of Govinda ala rey(Govinda is another name for Lord Krishna).
A large booty usually thousands of rupees along with dahi (curd) is the target for the teams to achieve by breaking the pot.
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has already appealed to all Janmashtami festival organisers to refrain from crowded celebrations so that the H1N1 virus is not spread. Swine flu has already claimed lives of 13 persons in Maharashtra where Pune and Mumabi also accounted for nearly one-third of the over 1,000 infections in the country.
Top Janmashtami organisers of Pune like Akhil Mandai Mandal and Dagdhu Sheth s Janmashtami Mandal have already decided not to have 'dahi handi' ritual during the Friday festivities.
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