News and pic: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 14: In view of several accidents that take place during the practice of Dahi Handi Pataks, Vile Parle MLA Krishna Hegde has called for an additional crane which will support the Govinda on the topmost layer.
The Govinda will be supported by a safety belt which will be attached to the crane. A total of two cranes will be in operation.
Usually the youngest of the children are asked to mount the top layer so that the load on the lower rings of Govindas are lessened. The government is placing a ban on Govindas under the age of 12 for participating.
"I support this step; no sport is more important than life," said Hegde.
Most Pathaks/Govindas are insured but there are numerous casualties.
Hegde’s Dahi Handi in the very first year itself was voted amongst the top five in the Mumbai-Thane belt.
Top politico’s like Sachin Ahir, Jitendra Awad, Ram Kadam and Pratap Sarnaik are also organizing ‘Big Handis.’ Vile Parle has a huge Marathi and Gujarathi population and Hegde is the only Congress leader who hosts the Big Dahi Handi and also the biggest Navratri in the city.
Last year ace director Rohit Shetty, Priya Dutt, Shreyas Talpade and several other celebrities graced the occasion.
This year Hegde assures a bigger Handi with lot of celebrity guests.