The city is on course to mark a relatively safer Gokulashtami. We say relatively because we will not know the outcome of this till the festival is over. There has been an uptick in awareness, though. A report in this paper said some dahi handi events on the day have been cancelled altogether.

There seems to have been a positive shift at these events when it comes to safety. At practice now, one witnesses that Govindas do wear some safety gear. There are helmets, some harnesses, we saw a number of arm grips as well. Rules need to be respected and followed and the transformation is happening. What we now hope to see is the same respect stretching on hours after the last handi has been broken and the revellers have climbed down.