This is the festival of Krishna Janmashtami, which celebrates Lord Krishna’s birth anniversary. Devaki, Kans’s sister, was the mother of Lord Krishna. Vasudeva was the father. To save Kansa’s wrath, his foster parents Nand (and Yashoda) in Vrindavan raised him.
Janmashtami is celebrated by devotees to Lord Krishna with great enthusiasm. The ritual of the ‘Dahi Handi’ is essential for the celebration. This article will tell you everything about the ritual and explain what the handi contains.
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What is Dahi Handi?
Janmashtami’s integral part is Dahi Handi. It is an earthen pot or handi filled with Makhan (butter), dahi (curd), sweets and nuts and hung at a height. A group of boys then build a pyramid with their friends to reach the handi and to break it.
Experts say that the handi should be hung 30 feet above the ground. In Maharashtra, Gujarat and other parts of India, the ritual of Dahi Handi has been celebrated. This event has been largely ignored in light of COVID-19 for the past two years.
History of “Dahi Handi”
Historical and spiritual accounts indicate that LaddooGopal, or Little Lord Krishna, loved white butter (Makhan), curd, and milk while growing up in Vrindavan. He would steal it from his neighbors and other villagers. He was nicknamed ‘Navneetchor’ and ‘Maakhanchor’ for this habit. His stealing habits frustrated his mother Yashoda maa.
She used to bind Lord Krishna, telling other village women to tie their butter, curd, and milk in a handi high enough that he couldn’t reach it. Krishna and his friends built human pyramids to reach the handi and then broke it, and distributed it among themselves. As a sweet reminder of his childhood, the ‘Dahi Handi’ is celebrated.
Importance Dahi Handi
It’s all about teamwork and coordination. Dahi Handi is celebrated by dedicated teams. The team creates human pyramids, each with up to nine layers. The lower tiers are made up of strong people who can carry the weight, while the top tier has an energetic child who can catch the handi and break it.
The pyramid’s top tiers are known as ‘Govinda Pathak or ‘Govinda. Experts believe that the purpose of this ritual is to foster brotherhood, strength and coordination among young minds so they can stand beside one another.
