SC rejects plea over dahi-handi

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a plea for permission to raise the 20-feet height of the human pyramid which is part of the 'Dahi-Handi' ritual during Janmashtami festival in Maharashtra on August 25.

“Allowing youths to make more layers (of men) is too dangerous. We don’t know how it would be regulated if we increase the height of the pyramid,” a three-judge bench presided over by Justice Anil R Dave said.

The bench, also comprising Justices U U Lalit and L Nageswara Rao, declined the request for modifying the height restriction and raise it to at least 25 feet.

Senior advocate Rajiv Dutta, appearing for a trust, contended that the height limit would rob the festival of its excitement and competitiveness as the people engaged in it were well-trained.
Reports of injuries

The court, however, said that there were reports that the people received spinal chord injuries in the festival which was “really scary”.