Govinda pathaks offer their prayers before an SC hearing on festival restrictions

With the hope that the Supreme Court (SC) would give a positive response to their petition, a few city-based Dahi Handi pathaks (group) visited Siddhivinayak temple to offer their prayers. The apex court will be hearing the petition on Friday, July 7.

In 2016, a day before the Dahi Handi festival, SC refused the plea by Mumbai-bassed Dahi Handi trust on August 24, 2016 ordered that the height of the human pyramid formed during the festival should not go beyond 20-feet.

As per the plea submitted by Jogeshwari-based Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak, the pathaks want to modify the cap on the height of human pyramids and also decrease the age bar for govindas, those participating in the festival. Currently, according to the order, govindas below the age of 18 years are not allowed to perform.

A team of Jogeshwari-based pathak will be attending the hearing on Friday.

David Fernandes, member of Jai Jawan Dahi Handi Mandal, said, "We have only two major demands. Due to the 20-feet cap on the human pyramid, pathaks cannot perform the pyramid beyond four tiers. We want the SC to agree on our petition and raise the height of the pyramid as well as decrease the age bar on minor govindas. Last year, since the order came a day before the festival, the SC stated that we should agree with Bombay High Court's order. Now that the hearing date is a month earlier, we hope we can make our plea before the apex court."

Other city-based pathaks are supporting the petition. Arun Patil, coach of Sarvajanik Govinda Pathak in Mazgaon, said, "The HC gave their order without paying heed to our side of the story. This year, we hope the SC will listen to our plea. We want to perform freely. Most of the pathaks offered their prayers at Siddhivinayak temple."