Dahi Handi – A Human Pyramid Game

India is full of festivals and celebrations. One more celebration in India and that is Dahi Handi (Dahi – Curd, Handi – earthen pot. Which means Curd inside the earthen pot). This festival represents Lord Krishna who’s love for ‘makkhan’ and ‘dahi’ and all other dairy products drove him to steal them from the residents of Vrindavan village. His foster mother, Yashoda would have to tie him up in an attempt to stop him from stealing from their neighbors. But the little ‘makkhan chor’ had the power of God on his side. Vrindavan women started tying their fresh curd at heights that Lord Krishna would not be able to reach. However, Lord Krishna was naughty and he, along with his friends formed a human pyramid to take that curd.

Obviously, many people don’t know the importance. They just play the Dahi Handi because they love it. In every society, you will find a mix of boys and girls celebrating this. In my childhood days, there were 2 types of Dahi Handi. One was the human pyramid and only boys used to climb on each other and break that Handi. The Other Game was for girls. The Handi used to be at a lower level, and we girls get  blindfold. With the help of one big stick, we used to search that Handi and break it.

As I grew up, I saw this as a business. There were professionals of both boys and girls who used to make human pyramids up to 20 feet and more . Also price money of 1 lac to 10 lacs rupees. Don’t know how much these people get in hand by risking their life. Many lost their lives too. Because the height of the tower is almost 7 to 10 floors. Watching them doing this is no doubt a magnificent view. But at the same time, you will feel ugly..

Ugly?? Yes, someone will touch you and go. In such crowded places girls always forbid themselves for such indecent incidents. Not only that, It’s not a holiday, hence I used to leave late from office to avoid traffic, rush and indecent behaviour from so-called highly educated people. Festivals, In India always end up with many such negative news. and all we do is nothing. We just wait for our law to take some actions. Anyways, Such businesses got banned. But still there are few who continue doing this.

On this auspicious day, many families cook maximum food whatever they can and offer it to Lord Krishna. Since Lord Krishna was born at midnight, all the Krishna temples in India get beautifully decorated and are open all night. Devotees play Holi too. Want to know more about Janmashtami? Click here. Jai Shree Krishna.

Image From Google