The thrilling sport of Dahi Handi has been stuck in the legal framework since last many years. After the intervention of Child Rights associations and some social organization to ban Dahihandi, the state government protected the festival by declaring it an ‘Adventurous Sport’. The government issued a GR in favor of Dadhihandi association by declaring Dahihandi as an adventurous sport in 2015. However, even after three years of declaration of this GR, no guidelines and outlay on this adventure sport is set by government. Therefore how the students or the youngsters going to be benefitted by playing Dahihandi as a State’s official adventurous sport; is remain a big question. Will the students participating in this adventurous sport get extra marks? Or the youth will get reserved seats in the job from sports quota? These questions are remained unanswered.
The Social worker Swati Patil had filed a petition in the high court over the issue of accidents and safety while forming human pyramid on the occasion of Dahihandi. This had put the Govinda Mandals in legal framework. However, the government has given the status of ‘Adventurous Sports to ‘Dahi Handi’ on August 11, 2015 to get this favorite festival of youngsters free from legal mess. On 24th August 2016, the government issued another GR, outlining the measures to be implemented in this sport. e game. Today, it’s been 3 years to this GR, but government has not yet announced any guidelines on how and where to play this adventurous sports and what are the benefits for the participants.
How to play adventurous sport?
Although the state government has declared Dahihandi as the ‘Adventurous Sport’ but the guidelines and the format has not yet been set. There are no specific instructions on how and where to play this sport. Only few Dahihandi organizers have declared their guidelines to conduct the competition. Therefore the government’s announcement for adventurous sport has remained limited to the paper only as the Coordination Committee for this sport has not declared the proper guidelines yet. The students and youngsters playing Dahihandi, are still unaware of the benefits of playing this adventurous sport.
Through the Coordination committee, we are appealing to all the Govinda Mandals and the organizers to take all the safety measures.
Geeta Zagde, Secretary, Dahihandi Coordination Committee
What is the GR for ‘Adventurous Sport’?
The state associations should set the guidelines for the sport of Dahihandi and the organizers should follow these rules. It will be mandatory to play this sport as per the guidelines and time schedule set by the state association. The schedule for this sport should be done every year by the end of July month. Participants must use certified tools for safety measures.
It is mandatory for all the sports association to submit assurance letter to the administrator that the insurance cover of each sportsman playing Dahihandi has been done. The permission of the police, fire brigade and traffic police is mandatory along with mat, medical team, water supply and police security, suitable and adequate space for the sport.
Vinod Tawde, Sports Minister
The government issued a GR to declare Dahihandi as an ‘Adventurous Sport’. According to this GR, the guidelines are needed to be set by the state association. This is an adventurous game and it is going to be conducted through the association. According to the guidelines set, the coordination committee should conduct competition and safely enjoy the festival.
