In Sena vs Sena, Dahi Handi Celebrations Become Latest Flashpoint

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The youths participating in the festival are also known as ‘Govindas’

Mumbai:
The ‘Dahi Handi’ festival in Maharashtra, organised every year during
Janmashtami to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, has become another flashpoint between the two factions of Shiv Sena.

Here are the top 10 updates on this big story

The rival factions – one led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the other headed by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray – have put up hoardings and banners with photos of Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and party leader Anand Dighe in Mumbai, Thane and other cities of Maharashtra.
Kalyan MP and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde said that their event depicts respect for Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe. On the other hand, the Thackeray camp MP, Rajan Vichare, said their event reflects loyalty, unity, culture and the voice of Hindutva.
The Shinde faction has announced a prize of Rs 2.51 lakh for the winning teams at their ‘Dahi Handi’ events in Mumbai and Thane, while the winning team at the Thackeray camp’s event in Thane will get a prize of Rs 1.11 lakh. Another event organised by the organisation of Thane Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik carries total prize money of Rs 21 lakh.
Uddhav Thackeray’s government collapsed about a month ago after most MLAs of his party joined Eknath Shinde’s revolt. The Shinde faction has also staked a claim over the poll symbol of Shiv Sena- a “bow and arrow”- and the matter is pending before the Election Commission.
The supporters of Eknath Shinde are holding a Dahi Handi at Tembhi Naka in Thane, while the Uddhav Thackeray faction has organised a similar event just about 200 metres away at Jambli Naka.
After two years, the ‘Dahi Handi’ festival is being celebrated on a grand scale across Maharashtra as the government has lifted all coronavirus-related curbs.
Eknath Shinde has announced that the ‘Dahi Handi’ festival will now be recognised as an adventure sport in the state. The youths participating in the festival, also known as ‘Govindas’, can apply for government jobs under the sports quota.
In case of the death of a participant, his family would get Rs 10 lakh as compensation from the state government. Rs 7 lakh would be given to participants with serious injuries, while one with fractures would be paid Rs 5 lakh.
Raj Thackeray’s party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has also announced a prize of Rs 55 lakh for a Dahi Handi event being organised by it. “The winning team may also get a chance to go to Spain,” a party spokesperson announced.
During the ‘Dahi Handi’ event, ‘Govindas’ make a human pyramid to reach an earthen pot containing buttermilk which is hung mid-air, and break it.