Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, August 12

The Mumbai police have made it mandatory for every participant in pyramids as part of the dahi handi celebrations to obtain a life cover of Rs 10 lakh.

“There is are more than 900 Govinda mandals in the city and all of them have to buy spot cover for Rs 10 lakh each of their members in order to get permission to participate in dahi handi competitions,” a spokesman for the Mumbai police said. Similar rules are likely to be put in place across Maharashtra as well, sources said.

Public and private insurance companies have also come up with several group insurance packages for the Govinda Pathaks (as participants are called). The premium paid by each member has come down to Rs 75 each from nearly double two years ago as more Govinda mandals are opting for spot insurance, according to office-bearers of the Dahi Handi Utsav Samanway Samiti, the umbrella body of the Govinda Pathaks.

Last year, the Bombay High Court had ordered the Mumbai police not to issue no-objection certificates to Govinda mandals if they did not obtain insurance for their members.

As per the restrictions imposed by the Bombay High Court, children below the age of 14 should not be allowed to participate in the celebrations. The height of the human pyramids also should not exceed 20 feet, according to the Samiti. The restrictions were, however, flouted by several big mandals offering lakhs of rupees as prize money.

Police officials said they would file cases against those stringing up pots above a height of 20 feet.

Last year, two Govindas (as the participants are called) died and more than 85 other received injuries after falling from heights during the Janmashtami celebrations in the state.

JANMASHTAMI CELEBRATIONS

The dahi handi ritual is part of the Janmashtami celebrations in Maharashtra, where youngsters (Govindas) make human pyramid to reach an earthen pot containing buttermilk and suspended in mid-air, and break it

BOMBAY HC IMPOSES CURBS