'Face the music if your govindas break bones'

Lower heights for handis, doctors and ambulances on standby, CCTV cameras these are some of the mandatory safety measures stipulated by the police commissioner for Dahi Handi mandals

Lower heights for handis, doctors and ambulances on standby, CCTV cameras these are some of the mandatory safety measures stipulated by the police commissioner for Dahi Handi mandals
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If any of the govindas' overarching ambitions to break the handi lead them to suffer the same misfortune as Humpty Dumpty this year, chances are that the handi organisers will also experience plummeting fortunes along with them.

As a safety measure, organisers have started making use
of harnesses, so that in case the pyramid collapses, the
govinda on top won't come crashing down

In an endeavour to minimise the number of casualties, the Mumbai Police Commissioner has issued a circular to all Dahi Handi organisers, threatening strict action against those who violate the safety guidelines stipulated by them.

"In case any accident takes place, the handi organisers will be held accountable. We will take strict action against any mandal which disobeys the instructions," said Ramrao Pawar, the additional commissioner of police (north).

Cops have been vested with the authority to determine the maximum height at which the handi is to be tied, and inform mandal authorities well in advance.

They are also expected to keep a team of doctors and an ambulance on standby, near the grounds. Insuring all the govindas has also been made mandatory.

In addition to this, CCTV cameras will have to be installed in and around the premises to record the proceedings. The police will only grant mandals the permission to conduct their festivities once they are satisfied that all these guidelines have been implemented.

According to a police source, concerns arose after a number of instances were reported in recent years, wherein several govindas risked their lives to break the handis.

"The mandals tie the handis at unattainable heights. To make matters worse, there are no helpers, ambulances or doctors stationed at the spot to attend to the govindas in case of any unforeseen incident," he said.

He added that they were keeping a vigilant eye on low-budget mandals, which often make slipshod arrangements.

Mandals who have been celebrating the festival for years claim that everything is in place for the festival.
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"We have been celebrating the festival for the past five years, and tie the dahi handi to the ninth layer of the pyramid this is lowered to the seventh layer by evening.

A team of 350 helpers, including doctors, will be present. We have apprised the police about all our arrangements," said Karna Bala, an organiser in Chembur.