Krishna Janmashtami 2022: Govinda Aala Re! What is the significance of Dahi Handi

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New
Delhi,
Aug
16:
The
Dahi
Handi
festival
symbolises
the
cheerful
spirit
of
Lord
Krishna’s
times
at
Nanda
Gokul
and
the
way
he
led
the
community
of
young
lads
towards
a
higher
spiritual
pursuit,
at
the
same
time,
along
with
their
games,
in
the
lap
of
nature.

The
Gopal
Kala
or
Dahi
Handi
is
much
more
than
a
mundane
celebration
that
arrives
when
it
is
due,
it
is
a
cultural
imprint
of
bygone
times
on
the
psyche
of
Maharashtrians.
It
celebrates
a
cultural
epoch
that
is
revisited
and
relived
on
a
grand
scale.
One
of
the
biggest
festivals
that
a
true
Maharashtrian
identifies
himself
with,
on
the
Janmashtami
of
the
playful
Bal
Krishna.
The
strains
of
‘Govinda
Ala
re!’ harmoniously
combined
with
the
spirit
of
the
Dahi
Handi,
make
it
exceedingly
memorable.
Read
on
to
know
more
on
this
day.

In
Gujarat
and
Dwarka,
dahi
handi
is
called
Makhan
Handi
–
an
earthen
pot
filled
with
yogurt,
ghee,
almonds
and
nuts.
It
is
called
Uriadi
in
Tamil
Nadu.

The
Significance
of
Janmashtami

Janmashtami
is
celebrated
on
the
eighth
day
of
the
Hindu
month
of
Shravan
as
the
birthday
of
Lord
Krishna,
considered
Lord
Vishnu’s
incarnation.
Devotees
fast
and
pray
at
midnight,
the
time
when
the
Lord
was
born.

According
to
Hindu
mythology,
Krishna
and
his
friends
used
to
form
human
pyramids
to
break
pots
hung
from
the
ceilings
of
neighbourhood
houses,
in
order
to
steal
curd
and
butter
in
Vrindavan.

How
it
is
celebrated?

With
nearly
1,000
mandals
and
Govinda
brigades,
Mumbai
is
one
of
the
biggest
centres
for
‘Dahi
Handi’
celebrations
on
Janmashtami.
On
this
day,
youngsters,
called
govindas,
attempt
to
break
the
dahi
handi
by
forming
a
human
pyramids.

The
Dahi
Handi
[clay
pot]
s
is
hung
about
20-30
feet
high
in
the
air
using
a
rope
that
has
silver
coins
tied
along
the
length
of
the
rope.
These
are
also
considered
to
be
the
prizes
that
the
winners
receive
after
winning
the
event.
After
forming
the
human
pyramid,
the
person
on
the
top
tries
to
break
the
Dahi
Handi.

Onlookers
keep
splashing
water
on
the
participants
to
deter
them.
Once
the
Dahi
Handi
is
broken
into
pieces,
the
prize
is
given
away
to
the
winners
along
with
the
pieces
of
the
broken
handi.
Devotees
firmly
believe
that
the
pieces
of
the
handi
keep
negative
energies
away.
People
keep
screeching
Govinda
ala
re
throughout
the
game.