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Celebration
of
Janmashtami,
birth
of
the
famous
Lord
Krishna
includes
a
number
of
ceremonies
like,
Raslila,
Jhankis
(tableaux)
etc.
Dahi
Handi
is
a
popular
ceremony,
celebrated
with
lot
of
enthusiasm
and
glee.
Dahi
Handi
is
an
enactment
of
Lord
Krishna's
efforts
to
steal
butter
from
Matka
(earthen
pot)
suspended
from
the
ceiling.
The
Celebrations
Dahi
Handi
generally
takes
place
on
the
second
day
of
Janmashtami.
An
earthen
pot
containing
a
mixture
of
milk,
dry
fruits,
ghee
is
hung
around
20-30
feet
high
in
the
air
with
the
help
of
a
rope.
Silver
coins
are
hung
along
with
the
rope,which
are
later
distributed
as
prize
to
the
winners.
Enthusiastic
young
men,
form
a
human
pyramid
by
standing
one
on
top
of
the
other,
trying
to
break
the
pot.
Onlookers
throw
water
on
the
young
men
in
order
to
prevent
them
from
breaking
the
pot.
Breaking
of
the
pot
is
followed
by
prize
distribution.
Devotees
believe
that
the
broken
pieces
of
earthen
pot
will
keep
away
mice
and
negative
powers
from
their
homes.
Dahi
Handi
is
celebrated
with
fervor,
especially
in
the
twin
cities
of
Mathura
-
Vrindavan,
Dwarka
and
Mumbai.
Young
men
in
Mumbai
yell
'Ala
re
ala,
Govinda
ala'
during
the
ceremony.
While
working
in
various
field,
we
used
to
arrange
group
of
youths
on
the
eve
of
birth
of
Lord
Krishna
&
move
around
in
the
various
areas
of
Ghatkopar,
Vikhroli,
Kanjurmarg,
Mulund,
Thane,
Kalava,
Airoli
to
break
the
earthen
pot
i.
e.
"DAHI
HANDI".
We
were
succeeded
in
getting
awards
for
this
task
from
various
organisers
at
15
to
20
spots
last
year.
We
had
also
received
a
special
award
declared
by
NDTV
for
Govinda
Mandal
for
"Best
Social
Work"
through
Mr.
Jitendra
Avhad
of
"Sangharsh"
at
Thane
in
2008.
We
used
to
arrange
7
steps
of
youths
for
this
purpose.
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