Money Dahi Handi celebrated with great pomp in Bhiwandi, Govindas set up seven to nine tiers.

City News Mumbai/ Gani Khan

The Dahi Handi festival in Bhivandi city was celebrated this year with great zeal and enthusiasm. Prize money worth millions of rupees boosted the enthusiasm of the Govinda teams. Apart from Bhivandi, large numbers of Govinda teams arrived in the city from Thane, Kalyan, Mumbai and surrounding rural areas. Amid DJs, drums, and cheers at various places, the Govindas gathered to break the pot.

In different parts of the city, Govinda teams saluted by forming seven to eight tiers of human pyramids. Meanwhile, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, the Dahi Handi festival organized by the Kapil Patil Foundation saw the “Hum Shelkar” Govinda team successfully salute nine tiers for the first time, setting a new record. Shri Krishna Govinda team, Temghar Pada and Cheroba Govinda team, Konganv displayed their strength by saluting eight tiers each.

The Dahi Handi organized by former Union Minister of State Kapil Patil’s Kapil Patil Foundation had prizes exceeding Rs 2.5 million for the Govinda teams. Because of the attractive prize amounts, hundreds of Govinda teams participated in the event.

To make the Dahi Handi festival grand, various organizers in the city invited political leaders, public representatives as well as film actors and singers. The district head of Shiv Sena (Shinde), Subhash Mane, organized the Dahi Handi festival at the late Anand Dighe Chowk.

At Bhadvad Naka, former Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Rupesh Mhatre, at Ranjanoli Naka Shiv Sena (Uddhav) Taluka chief Karshan Thackeray, and at Sonale the D.Y. Foundation president Dayanand Choraghe organized Dahi Handi.

In Bhandari Compound, a splendid Dahi Handi festival was also organized under the leadership of councilor Yashwant Tawre. Seeing a large number of Bhojpuri‑speaking residents in the area, Bhojpuri film actors and singers were specially invited. The performances of the artists and the enthusiasm of the Govinda teams made the atmosphere even more colorful.