Dahi handis – which are celebrated with much fanfare in Mumbai every successive year, the current observation of Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) came as a dampener. The state’s constitutional body has recommended ban on participation of children below 12 years of age from being a part of dahi handi pyramids.

 

The mandals that organizes this sporting festival are irked by the MSCPCR’s decision. Uncertainty prevails there about the festival that is happening on August 18.

 

Two prominent dahi handi mandals are fuming at the decision of the state children’s body as the kids occupy the top level of human pyramids and thus remain the main focus of attraction.

 

Besides, the Mumbai police too are gearing up to act against such mandals that allow children below 12 years to be part of the pyramids.

 

While it is true that organisers depend mostly on kids to form the top tier of the human pyramids, given their light weight, it is also true that there have been a great many accidents in the past. Some have resulted in deaths, like the very recent one, where a 14-year-old boy died during dahi handi practice. Others have resulted in young men becoming paralysed and other forms of grievous injury.

 

Annoyed though they may be at these decisions, it is time the mandals obey these instructions, only because they are made not to play spoilsport, but in the interest of kid’s safety.

 

While it is good that a festival is celebrated, safety has to be of paramount concern. Mandals can surely lessen the height of the tiers if they do not find a young person light enough to go to the top. What is important in the larger picture is the spirit of the festival joy, devotion, camaraderie rather than simply the height of the pyramids.

 

Even politicians and leaders who put in huge money into the festival and award prizes to different mandals for the height of the pyramid, may do all a service by awarding prizes for safety.

 

The mandal which takes the most precautions in terms of nets and safety helmets should be the one sweeping the prizes.