Maharashtra: Youth below 18 cannot participate as 'Govindas' in Dahi Handi festival

On 17th August, the Supreme Court ruled that those below 18 cannot participate as 'Govindas' in the upcoming Dahi Handi festival in Maharashtra.

The Supreme Court added that the height of the human pyramid, meant for Dahi Handi, cannot exceed the 20 feet ceiling as fixed by the Bombay High Court.

The Maharashtra government had approached the apex court seeking clarification on its 2014 order by which it had stayed the High Court's decision banning participation of those below 18-years in the popular 'Dahi-Handi' ritual.

The High Court had on 11 August, 2014, while hearing a petition filed by social worker Swati Sayaji Patil, ordered that the height of human pyramids should not exceed 20 feet and that children below the age of 18 should not be allowed to participate in the Dahi Handi ritual.

The state government had then challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court which had initially suspended the HC order and later dismissed the petition challenging it.

The Maharashtra government had taken a stand that since the apex court had not expressed any opinion on the restriction imposed by the High Court on the height of human pyramids, it was not bound by the earlier HC order.

The HC, however, had asked the state government to seek clarification from the Supreme Court on the aspect that its earlier order would be in force unless it had been set aside by the apex court.

--With PTI inputs