More than 1,000 Dahi Handi celebrations were held across Vasai-Virar on Saturday, September 5, drawing large crowds, 118 Govinda teams and prolonged traffic congestion on key roads across the city.
The celebrations began in the morning, with Govinda teams carrying images of Lord Krishna in processions accompanied by drums, music and cultural performances. Human pyramids ranging from five to eight tiers were formed at different venues, where teams offered ceremonial salutes before breaking the suspended pots.
Large events were organised in areas including Vishal Nagar, Ambadi Road, Panchvati Naka, Vasanta Nagari, Achole, Nilemore and Manvelpada. Political parties and social organisations also hosted Dahi Handis, with prize money running into lakhs of rupees at some venues. The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, BJP, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray were among the political groups involved in the competition, according to the report.
The number of Govinda teams participating this year rose to 118 from 99 previously. Women’s teams also took part in forming human pyramids. The report said the festival’s competitive character had increased after Dahi Handi received recognition as an adventure sport.
The celebrations attracted substantial crowds, including women and children, around venues where teams competed for cash awards and other prizes. Organisers and political leaders distributed T-shirts to Govindas, while several events included public performances and other entertainment programmes.
The scale of the celebrations severely affected movement through the city. Crowds, processions and lines of vehicles carrying Govinda teams led to traffic jams lasting several hours on major roads. The congestion was reported across multiple locations rather than being limited to a single event venue.
The report also highlighted road-safety concerns during the celebrations. Several Govindas were seen travelling to venues with three or four people on a single two-wheeler, a practice that created additional risks while teams moved between locations for ceremonial salutes. The report said traffic and safety rules were openly disregarded at several places.
The events concluded amid continued celebrations across the city, with authorities facing the immediate challenge of managing crowd movement, processions and traffic around multiple Dahi Handi venues.
