BY PRATIMA ACHREKAR | NT NETWORK

Govindaa aala re aala

Zaraa matki sambhaal brijbaalaa…

This is a common line sung on the occasion of Gopalkala. Gopalkala or Dahi Handi is a major festival celebrated in the state in the holy month of Shravan.

It is called Gopalkala in Goa and ‘Dahi Handi’ in other parts of the country. Though a Hindu festival, people irrespective of class and religion observe it with a lot of zeal and zest. Another attraction on this occasion are the gavlanis (young girls who dress up as milkmaids – Krishna’s gopiyaans) and the young boys who dress up as Krishna.

‘Gopalkala’ is observed on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha in the Shravan month after Sri Krishna Jayanti.

The celebration of Janmashtami, the birth of the Lord Krishna includes a number of festive celebrations like Raslila, Jhankis (tableaux), etc. Dahi Handi is a part of the celebrations. It is the enactment of Lord Krishna’s efforts to steal butter from a suspended earthen pot.

The Gopalkala ceremony is observed with a number of enthusiastic youth forming huge human pyramids with the purpose of reaching an overhead pot suspended from a rope. This pot contains a mixture of milk, dry fruits and yogurt. People form small groups and make several attempts to break the pot. The group that succeeds walks away with a bumper prize. Prior to participating in the Dahi Handi ritual the group circles the temple five times.

While people form pyramids, onlookers throw water on the young men in order to prevent them from breaking the pot and heighten the prevailing excitement. In some regions the pot is hung at a considerable height and is moved with the help of ropes tied to the pot. This is done to make the task of breaking the pot all the more challenging. Devotees believe that the broken pieces of earthen pot will keep away negative powers from their homes and collect the pieces and preserve it at a safe place in their home.

Dahi Handi is celebrated with fervour, especially in the twin cities of Mathura- Vrindavan in Dwarka, and in Mumbai.

Various Dahi Handi competitions have been organised in the state. Few organisations also conduct a fancy dress competition for children who dress up in the attire of Lord Krishna.