Babupeth team wins Rs 1.5 lakh Dahi Handi prize second year running in Chandrapur

The Maratha Charitable Trust and Balubhau Mitra Parivar jointly organised a large Dahi Handi festival at the New English School ground in Chandrapur. A huge crowd turned out and enjoyed the celebrations.

The highlight of the festival was the Sheetal Mata Govinda Pathak team from Babupeth, which broke the dahi handi by forming tall human pyramids. The team succeeded in breaking the dahi handi for the second year in a row, setting a new record. It won the first prize of Rs 1,51,000.

MP Pratibha Dhanorkar, who was present at the event, praised the organisers for playing DJ music in line with the administration's guidelines and rules. Dhanorkar said all citizens and groups should follow administrative rules on DJ music at future festivals and celebrations as well. She said the DJ music was played strictly according to the rules and guidelines set by the district superintendent of police and the court.

Also present on the occasion were Rajura municipal council president Arun Dhote, Warora municipal council president Archana Thakre, Mul municipal council president Ekta Samarth, Ballarpur municipal council president Alka Vadhai, Mahila Congress district president Kunda Jenekar, city Congress district president Shiva Rao, Congress group leader in the Chandrapur City Municipal Corporation Surendra Adbale, along with corporators from the municipal corporation and various municipal councils, elected representatives, Congress office-bearers and workers.

The festival also featured several competitions in which people took part enthusiastically. In the afternoon, an exciting tug of war contest was held for women above 18 years, in which women's teams displayed their strength and team spirit. The winning team received a first prize of Rs 10,000 and a cup, the Irai team came second with Rs 7,000 and a cup, and the Azad Golden team came third with Rs 5,000 and a cup.

This was followed by a fancy dress competition for children aged 5 to 10 on the theme of "great figures of India", in which children dressed up as figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Savitribai Phule. Shifa Pawar came first and won Rs 5,000 and a cup, Sanjeevan Pawar came second and won Rs 3,000 and a cup, while Ahilya Lalsare came third and won Rs 2,000 and a cup.

In the evening, the festival's main attraction was the "Bhau's Dahi Handi" competition, open to all, held in a lively atmosphere. The New English School ground echoed with the tall human pyramids formed by Govinda teams and chants of "Govinda ala re". In this contest, the Sheetal Mata Govinda Pathak team from Babupeth built dramatic human pyramids to break the dahi handi and won Rs 1,51,000 in cash along with a large cup. All winning players and Govinda teams were honoured with cash prizes and cups by dignitaries.

Citizens, women and Govinda enthusiasts from Chandrapur city and the surrounding areas responded enthusiastically to the grand cultural and sporting festival. Members and volunteers of the Maratha Charitable Trust and Balubhau Mitra Parivar worked hard to make the event a success.