mid-day editorial: Put safety on top, this dahi handi

Even as the nation celebrates Independence Day tomorrow, dahi handi pyramid formations will take over the city, with just the festival falling on the same day. Prizes for the tallest pyramid have been announced, and mandals are getting ready to outdo each other.

While it is true that mandals rely heavily on children to form the top tier of the pyramids, given their light weight, it is important to remember that there have been a great many accidents in the past. Some have resulted in death, while others have led to young men becoming paralysed or suffering other grievous injuries.

Safety has to be of paramount concern. Mandals must obey the government's diktat and keep children under 14 years out of the pyramid formations. These rules are not made in order to spoil the festive spirit, but to ensure that the celebrations are not spoiled by tragedy. Mandals can surely decrease the number of tiers if they sense some danger, even on the last day. What is important in the larger picture, is the true spirit of the festival - joy and devotion, not just the height of pyramids.

Politicians and local leaders who pump huge money into the festival and give out prizes to different mandals for the tallest pyramid have to shift the focus to safety. Why not announce a prize for the mandal that takes the most precautions, in terms of nets and safety helmets? Any team that does not implement the basic safety measures should automatically be disqualified from winning.

This Independence Day, as India turns 70, let us find a new maturity in how we celebrate. Less traffic, less noise, less obstruction and more consideration towards others - this should be the aim. Instead of communities feeling targeted by rules, it is important to see the wisdom in the rules. Happy dahi handi, break it in the coolest way possible, Mumbai.