Dahi Handi 2022: Supporters of Shinde, Uddhav gear up for show of strength in Thane

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Thane,
Aug
18:
Thane,
the
home
turf
of
Maharashtra
Chief
Minister
Eknath
Shinde,
will
on
Friday
witness
Dahi
Handi
events
being
organized
by
his
faction
as
well
as
the
Uddhav
Thackeray-led
Shiv
Sena.
Supporters
of
both
sides
are
busy
making
preparations
to
attract
maximum
crowds
for
the
Dahi
Handi,
which
is
part
of
the
Janmashtami
festival
where
youngsters
called
Govindas,
dressed
in
colorful
attire,
make
a
human
pyramid
to
reach
an
earthen
pot
containing
buttermilk
and
hung
mid-air,
and
break
it.

This
year,
the
supporters
of
Shinde
are
putting
up
a
Dahi
Handi
at
Tembhi
Naka,
while
the
rival
camp
of
Thane
MP
Rajan
Vichare
is
organizing
a
similar
event
just
about
200
meters
away
at
Jambli
Naka
in
Thane
city.

Both
sides
are
organizing
the
events
in
the
names
of
Sena
founder
Balasaheb
Thackeray
and
late
Sena
leader
from
Thane
Anand
Dighe,
whom
Shinde
considers
as
his
mentor.

Kalyan
MP
Shrikant
Shinde,
who
is
the
CM’s
son,
and
former
Thane
mayor
Naresh
Mhaske
told
reporters
on
Wednesday
that
their
Handi
depicts
respect.

On
the
other
side,
Vichare
said
they
reflect
loyalty,
unity,
culture,
and
the
voice
of
Hindutva.

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

The
city
police
have
made
elaborate
arrangements
for
the
smooth
conduct
of
the
festival.

Shrikant
Shinde
and
Mhaske
said
the
winning
team
of
their
events
in
Thane
and
Mumbai
will
get
Rs
2.51
lakh
each.The
parliamentarian
also
said
he
would
make
efforts
to
get
Dahi
Handi
included
in
the
adventurous
sports
category.

Vichare
said
the
winning
team
at
their
event
will
get
a
prize
of
Rs
1.11
lakh.

He
said
there
will
be
arrangements
of
safety
ropes,
doctors
will
be
on
standby,
and
beds
reserved
in
hospitals
in
case
of
any
eventuality.
He
also
said
that
besides
participants,
the
audience
will
also
be
insured.

Local
organization
Swami
Pratishthan
is
organizing
another
Dahi
Handi
carrying
total
prize
money
of
Rs
51
lakh,
including
Rs
11
lakh
for
the
winning
team.

The
MNS
has
also
announced
total
prize
money
of
Rs
55
lakh
for
a
Dahi
Handi
event
being
organized
by
it
and
that
the
winning
team
may
also
get
a
chance
to
go
to
Spain.
Another
Dahi
Handi
event
to
be
held
by
an
organization
of
Thane
Shiv
Sena
MLA
Pratap
Sarnaik
carries
total
prize
money
of
Rs
21
lakh.