IMG_6258IMG_6282IMG_6283IMG_6284IMG_6286IMG_6288
IMG_6287IMG_6299IMG_6300IMG_6301IMG_6302IMG_6303
IMG_6304IMG_6306IMG_6305IMG_6307IMG_6308IMG_6311
IMG_6312IMG_6313

Janmaashtami 2011, a set on Flickr.

Imagine this ,

8pm – One street lamp – A human pyramid – & onlookers cheering as they attempt to touch the sky 🙂

Janmaashtami, popularly known in Mumbai as Dahi Handi, is celebrated with enormous zeal and enthusiasm. The handi is a clay pot filled with buttermilk that was positioned at a convenient height prior to the event. The topmost person on the human pyramid tries to break the handi by hitting it with a blunt object mostly nariyal (coconut) is preferred being a sign of purity,truth and other good terms in hindu religion. When that happens the buttermilk is spilled over the entire group, symbolizing their achievement through unity. Various handis are set up locally in several parts of the city, and groups of youngsters, called govinda, travel around in trucks trying to break as many handis as possible during the day.
Many such Govinda Pathaks compete with each other, especially for the handis that dole out hefty rewards. The event, in recent times, has gathered a political flavor, and it is common for political parties, and rich community groups to offer prizes amounting to lakhs of rupees.
Some of the most famous handis are at, Dadar, Lower Parel and Worli , However this one was on the block that i live on 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.