<p>The Krishna Janamashtamidahi handi celebrations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — that falls on Tuesday — has been scaled down owing to various issues.<br /><br />Lack of corporate sponsorship and top-notch celebrities staying away are a few of the reasons. Besides, confusion over height restrictions on formation of human pyramids, sound system providers going on a silent protest and long and extended weekend has added to the problems of the organisers and Govinda pathaks. Demonetisation has its bearing on sponsorship as well.<br /><br />There are an estimated 800 to 1,000 dahi handi mandals in the MMR comprising Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. However, pending announcement of prize money, the Govinda pathaks are geared up for the event.<br /><br />“A dahi handi celebration involves a lot of things...sponsorship, celebrities are issues vis-a-vis organisers. As regards the big professional Govinda teams, they need to hire trucks to move from place to place, get T-shirts done, food and so on,” said one of the organisers who did not wish to be named. <br /><br />So far, three big announcements have come from Thane city. The biggest prize money this time seems to be the one organised by MNS leader Avinash Jadhav in Thane, where a prize money of Rs 11 lakh is on offer.<br />Public Works Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde’s dahi handi celebrations at Tembi Naka in Thane will promote football.</p>
<p>The Krishna Janamashtamidahi handi celebrations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) — that falls on Tuesday — has been scaled down owing to various issues.<br /><br />Lack of corporate sponsorship and top-notch celebrities staying away are a few of the reasons. Besides, confusion over height restrictions on formation of human pyramids, sound system providers going on a silent protest and long and extended weekend has added to the problems of the organisers and Govinda pathaks. Demonetisation has its bearing on sponsorship as well.<br /><br />There are an estimated 800 to 1,000 dahi handi mandals in the MMR comprising Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. However, pending announcement of prize money, the Govinda pathaks are geared up for the event.<br /><br />“A dahi handi celebration involves a lot of things...sponsorship, celebrities are issues vis-a-vis organisers. As regards the big professional Govinda teams, they need to hire trucks to move from place to place, get T-shirts done, food and so on,” said one of the organisers who did not wish to be named. <br /><br />So far, three big announcements have come from Thane city. The biggest prize money this time seems to be the one organised by MNS leader Avinash Jadhav in Thane, where a prize money of Rs 11 lakh is on offer.<br />Public Works Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde’s dahi handi celebrations at Tembi Naka in Thane will promote football.</p>
