|
| Andhra Pradesh ~ India ~ International ~ City ~ Entertainment ~ Business ~ Bullion ~ Forex ~ Sports ~ Technology ~ Health ~ Features |
| Panchang ~ Manmohan Singh ~ Sonia Gandhi ~ Sheila Dikshit ~ Stock Markets ~ Gossip |
|
Home
/ India News / 2007 / September 2007 / September 3, 2007 Mumbaikars get ready to break Dahi Handi on Janmashtami |
Grand celebrations marking Janmashtami begin across the country
Suspected Maoists kill five VHP functionaries in Orissa
President, PM greet countrymen on Janmashtami
Essential commodities prices soar sky high as transporters go on strike
National Commission for Minorities Educational Institutions strengthened
Single cigarette causes œ6million of damage to stately home!
Sex still a taboo subject between parents and teen daughters
Madoff had cheques worth $173M for friends and family ready when arrested
Moody open to England cricket coach job
Residents of Mumbai are gearing up to participate in Dahi Handi, one of the most awaited ceremonies related to Janmashtami.
Mumbai/ Dwarka (Gujarat), Sept. 3 : Residents of Mumbai are gearing up to participate in 'Dahi Handi', one of the most awaited ceremonies related to Janmashtami.
The event involves young boys climbing on each other to form a human pyramid and the boy at the top breaking a clay pot filled with curd.The ceremony was popularised by freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak in the 19th century.
"In Spain, people congregate in large numbers to watch the formation of a human pyramid. The atmosphere in Mumbai is the same during the Govinda festival. So, tourists will definitely come to see people making a pyramid," said Vijay Chavan, General Manager, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up around the temple town of Dwarka in Gujarat.
Krishna is believed to have spent most of his adult life in Dwarka."The temple falls under Z category (high risk area). We have set up checking points. We have also displayed pamphlets in hotels to help us avert a terror attack," said Mayur Solanki, a police sub-inspector.
Janmashtami includes the celebration of a number of ceremonies like Raslila and Jhankis (tableaux).
Dahi Handi is a re-enactment of Lord Krishna's efforts to steal butter from a earthen pot suspended from the ceiling.
The ceremony of 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 to the winners.
The breaking of the pot is followed by a prize distribution ceremony. Devotees believe that the broken earthen pot will keep mice and negative powers away from homes.
Janmashtami is celebrated on two consecutive days, the day when Krishna was born, and the day when he was brought to Gokul by his father Vasudeva.
ANI
