Mumbai | September 6, 2026
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has directed municipal healthcare facilities across Mumbai to remain on standby for the upcoming Dahi Handi celebrations, including reserving beds for Govindas and providing them free treatment, according to a report by Mid-Day.
The instruction was issued by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Verma Lavangare, who directed major and peripheral BMC hospitals to make the necessary arrangements ahead of the festival. The preparations are part of the civic body’s annual planning for Dahi Handi, which draws large crowds across the city.
The BMC’s arrangements are intended to ensure that Govindas who require medical attention can access treatment through municipal facilities. The report did not specify the number of beds to be reserved at individual hospitals or identify the facilities that will receive the largest allocations.
Dahi Handi celebrations involve teams of Govindas forming human pyramids to reach and break suspended earthen pots. The activity can involve risks of falls and injuries, particularly in crowded public areas. Municipal hospitals have therefore been asked to maintain readiness during the celebrations, when gatherings are expected in several parts of Mumbai.
Public representatives from areas known for prominent celebrations said safety arrangements have improved in recent years. Yashwant Killedar, a municipal councillor representing ward 192 in G North, said Dadar’s celebrations attract thousands of people but that the number of risks and incidents has declined over time. He said mandals are required to use safety equipment such as pulleys and safety jackets, while those that do not follow regulations may face police action.
Killedar also said municipal hospitals now receive fewer mishap cases than they did previously. His comments were made in the context of safety measures adopted by organisers and enforcement action against mandals that fail to comply with requirements.
Former municipal councillor Vishakha Raut said the festival remained closely connected to public participation and that the BMC needed to plan for possible mishaps. She also urged the public to exercise caution, noting that emergency arrangements could be stretched if incidents occurred during the celebrations.
In Santacruz East, Municipal Councillor Tulip Miranda said emergency arrangements would be important because roads are expected to become crowded. She said several Dahi Handi arrangements this year were concentrated on the main lanes of Bandra, increasing the need for preparedness in areas where large gatherings and traffic movement coincide.
The BMC has not publicly detailed, in the information available, the hospital-wise bed capacity, emergency staffing plan or traffic-management arrangements for the celebrations. Its immediate direction is for municipal healthcare facilities, including major and peripheral hospitals, to remain prepared, reserve beds for Govindas and provide treatment free of charge during the festival.
