The annual birthday festival celebrations of Sri Krishna is
noted for the formation of human pyramid in Maharashtra
especially in Mumbai. The festival is known as Dahi Handi. In 2024, date of
Human Pyramid Festival is August 27. The festival is a perfect
amalgamation of sport and spirituality and provides youngsters an opportunity
to be adventurous and to show team spirit and unity. Young boys and girls make
human pyramids to break the earthen pot hanging high above and the attempt to
break the pot is accompanied by the chanting of ‘Govinda ala re’ and by loud
sounds of cymbals and drums.
The festival is also known as ‘Gopal kala’. The name comes
from a dish or a mixture of yoghurt, pounded rice and jaggery, which is
offered to Krishna on the day. The
same mixture is placed in the Dahi Handi pot.
Legend has it that Sri Krishna was very fond of curd and
butter. He and his friends used steal butter from the houses in Vrindavan. To
save their curd and butter from Sri Krishna and his friends, women used to keep
it in a pot and hung it from the ceiling of their houses so that it could not
be easily reached. But Krishna and
his friends used to form human pyramid and easily steal the milk products.
Taking inspiration from this ‘leela’ divine play of Lord Krishna, today the
same challenge is posed before youngsters in the form of making human pyramid.
The pot which is hung at a considerable height is an open
challenge to the young boys in the area. The pot contains Dahi poha – a mixture
of beaten rice (poha), curd, sugar and pickle. The pot is also decorated with
flowers and currency notes. The young boys in the region form human pyramids,
sometimes reaching up to eleven stories, to reach the pot.
Women and girls won’t allow the young boys to get the pot
easily; they splash water on the boys and try to break the pyramids.
Today, Human Pyramid Festival is a major event in major
cities and towns in Maharashtra and
involves lot of money and large crowds. Prize for breaking the pot ranges from
1000 Rupees to millions of rupees.