Dahi Handi

Dahi Handi (curd pot) festival is celebrated with great fervour in Maharashtra especially in Mumbai as part of 'Janmashtami' or 'Gokulashtami', the birth anniversary celebration of Sri Krishna. Celebrated annually in the month of August, the festival involves breaking of earthen pots filled with milk, curd, fruits and butter that hung up over the streets at a convenient height. Young men enacting an episode from Krishna's childhood form human pyramids by climbing on each others shoulders and try to break these pots. The topmost person on the human pyramid tries to break the handi by hitting it with a blunt object, usually with a coconut. When that happens the buttermilk is spilled over the entire group, symbolizing their achievement through unity. Women team also participate in this event. Men participants are known as Govindas, while the women are called Gopikas depicting Krishna's followers.

During the festival day, several prize hanging handis are set up around the city. Teams of Govindas go around from one place to another, singing, dancing, throwing colour to break as many handis as possible. The prize money for the events usually range between 1 lakh to 12 lakh depending on the organizers and its sponsors. A huge of rush of devotees is also witnessed at various Krishna temples in the city.