Janmashtami 2022: CM Eknath Shinde's BIG move - 'Dahi-Handi' declared official sport in Maharashtra, jobs for 'Govindas'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced that the ‘Govindas’ will get jobs under the sports category and they will be provided an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakhs.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced that `Dahi-Handi` will now be recognised as an official sport in the state. CM Shinde further stated that "Pro-Dahi-Handi" competitions will be introduced in the state. On the occasion of Janmashtami, Shinde said, "Dahi-Handi will be recognised under the sports category in Maharashtra. Pro-Dahi-Handi will be introduced. The ‘Govindas’ will get jobs under the sports category. We will provide insurance cover of Rs 10 lakhs for all `Govindas`.”

दहिहंडीच्या प्रो गोविंदा स्पर्धांना मान्यता..

महाराष्ट्राची सांस्कृतिक ओळख व परंपरा असलेल्या दहिहंडीच्या (गोविंदा) ‘प्रो गोविंदा’ स्पर्धा घेण्याची घोषणा करण्यात आली.स्पर्धेसाठी बक्षिसाची रक्कम शासनातर्फे देण्यात येईल.तसेच खेळाडू संवर्गातून शासकीय नोकरी देण्यात येईल.#ProGovinda — Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) August 18, 2022

"Insurance cover will be Rs 10 lakhs if any Govinda loses his life, and Rs 5 lakhs if they end up being partially handicapped. These Govinda`s will get reservations in jobs too," he added. He said that many cities in the state celebrate “Dahi-Handi’ and it is an adventurous sport. Hence the decision was taken to include it in the state sports category.

स्पेन व चीन या देशांमध्ये मानवी मनोरे (पिरॅमिड) म्हणून या खेळाचा क्रीडा प्रकारात समावेश असून आपल्याकडे असलेल्या कबड्डी, खो-खो, मल्लखांब सारख्या खेळांप्रमाणे दहीहंडीचाही समावेश होईल. — Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) August 18, 2022

Janamashtami, the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna is often observed with numerous rituals of which `Dahi-Handi` is one of the most prominent.

आपणा सर्वांना श्रीकृष्णजन्माष्टमीच्या मन:पूर्वक शुभेच्छा....#श्रीकृष्ण_जन्म #श्रीकृष्णजन्माष्टमी pic.twitter.com/NOo9RHpYTP — Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) August 18, 2022

Also known as the `Gopalakala,` `Dahi-Handi` is a ritual in which devotees of Lord Krishna recreate the famous act of `Maakhan Chori` or butter stealing which is one of the many mischievous acts from the Lord`s childhood stories. It is observed on the next day of Janamashtami. Every year the festival of Janamashtami is celebrated by Hindus to mark the birth of Lord Krishna, the God who is the embodiment of playfulness and innocence.

As per the Hindu calendar, Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, was born on the eighth day of the month of Bhadra. The day mostly falls in the months of August or September as per the Western calendar. The festival of Janamashtami is celebrated by offering prayers to Lord Krishna, with beautifully decorated swings, dance and music performances, and the `Dahi-Handi` competition.