Dahikala is another name of Dahi Handi
festival in Maharashtra and is great importance to Hindu devotees. It is also the name of a popular dish
prepared in the many parts of India and offered to Lord Krishna. In
2023, the date of Dahikala is September 7. Dahi Kala is observed during the
eighth day of the Krishna Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Shravan month. The
day falls after the Sri Krishna Jayanti day in Maharashtra.
The Dahikala name for Dahi Handi festival comes from a dish
prepared on the festival day. The dish is a mixture of yoghurt, pounded rice
and jaggery, which is offered to Krishna on the day.
The Dahikala mixture is placed in the Dahi Handi pot and
young men and women compete against each other to break open the pot placed
high above the ground.
In Maharashtra, group of men and women form human
pyramids to break the Dahi Kala pot.