123Pune.com

The Dahi Handi celebrations in the city are becoming increasingly lavish with the prize money touching the Rs 6-lakh mark and hi-tech laser as also sound shows being planned to entertain the 'Govindas', so much so that the income tax (I-T ) department has decided to keep a keen eye on the celebrations. Dahi handi is traditionally celebrated on Janmashtami - the birthday of Lord Krishna - when a pot containing curd is tied at a height and people form human pyramids to reach up and break the pot. The group that achieves the feat is rewarded handsomely. This year Dahi Handi falls on August 24 and public mandals are gearing up for the festivities. The fact that artists who had performed at the inauguration and concluding ceremony of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have been booked by city-based Dahi Handi group Akhil Laxminagar Shahuvasahat Mitramandal near the Swargate bus stand to entertain spectators, shows how large the celebrations have become. Most Dahi Handi groups are essentially Ganesh mandals, that primarily celebrate the 10-day Ganesh festival every year. The famous Dahi Handis of the city in the Peth areas are put up by Hutatma Babu Genu, Suvarnayug Mandal, Akhil Mandai Ganesh Mandal, Shanipar Mitra Mandal, Jilbya Maruti Mandal among others. Some of the mandals have been celebrating the festival since the pre-independence years, but over the last five to seven years the scene of celebrations has changed drastically. The festival has now become an event complete with walls of sound systems belting out remix Hindi, Marathi and English songs. 'Govinda' groups (people who move from area to area breaking the curd pots) are now clad in uniforms and competition is stiff to claim the lucrative rewards ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 6 lakh.

In the recent years, Pune mandals have started celebrating the festival with many innovative ideas too, like inviting DJs from Mumbai and organising special bands, to attract people for which the mandals are shelling out money in lakhs.

Large hoardings announcing laser shows have been catching the attention of Pune residents. The Laxminagar mandal has booked Roger Drego of Mumbai, who mainly works for international singers when they perform in India, for presenting the same laser show that he did at the IPL ceremony. The Hutatma Babu Genu Mandal has ordered a local company to perform a similar laser show.

Corporator Anil Jadhav, who is closely associated with the Laxminagar mandal, said, "After the prohibition on noise levels, only a few festivals remain where mandal workers can let their hair down and enjoy themselves. Hence, we are trying to make Dahi Handi a special event by introducing new features for people who come to participate and also for the spectators." Neelesh Jadhav, of the same mandal, said, "We have paid Rs 4 lakh for the show for Roger Drego's performance. Though this is the second year that Drego is performing for us, it's the first time he will be putting up a laser show".

Sunil Chalke, who is setting up the stage and making other arrangements for Drego's show, said, "We are performing in Pune for the second consecutive year. Response to our system and performance has been tremendous and hence we have decided to have a laser programme this year."

For Balasaheb Marne, chairman of Hutatma Babu Genu Mandal, "The laser show is not the only attraction. We are also providing a platform to city youths to perform live on. The 'Govinda' group that breaks the handi will be given Rs 1 lakh as the prize and the handi will be at a height of 50 feet. If no 'Govinda' group succeeds in breaking the handi, we will reduce the height - but the prize money will also go down."

Dhananjay Gaikwad, manager of Shanipar Mitra Mandal, said, "Major mandals announce huge amounts, but hang the handi at such a height that no group can reach it. Most of the 'Govindas ' can break a handi suspended at a height of 35 feet. So, every time the height is lowered the prize money is also reduced."

"We are offering around Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 as the prize money and our handi will be suspended at height of 30 feet," Gaikwad said.

This year's highest prize amount --- Rs 6 lakh --- has been announced by the Pune Vikas Pratisthan, a comparatively new mandal in Vadgaon Sheri.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Dahi_Handi_becomes_pricey_as_pri...