MUMBAI: Soon after the exodus of MLAs began from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on June 21, individual members of dahi handi pathaks and Ganpati mandals flooded their social media displays with solidarity messages for the former CM.
However, that is water under the bridge. Eager to resume the sport after two pandemic years, govinda teams say the split in Sena ranks will not dampen dahi handi celebrations. Mandals affiliated with Uddhav Thackeray have no qualms joining competitions being organised by MLAs of the breakaway Eknath Shinde faction, like Pratap Sarnaik.
The prize amount totalling well over Rs 21 lakh is a big draw too. Mandals conduct various charitable activities throughout the year and dahi handi season is an opportunity to replenish the coffers.
Thackeray supporter Arun Patil, coach of the Mazgaon Tadwadi mandal who is also working president of the Dahi Handi Samanvay Samiti, said, “In fact I was with (Shinde faction MLA) Pratap Sarnaik when he announced his dahi handi event today. We may have personal political leanings but we do not let that interfere with the sport. There is no political stamp on the festival. In Tadwadi our president is inclined towards the Shiv Sena, our ex-president Bala Nandgaonkar is from MNS, and another office bearer is with NCP. Dahi handi is a cultural event where multiple ideologies converge.”
The coach of Jai Jawan mandal of Jogeshwari, Sandeep Dhavale, supports the MNS. He said, “We will gladly join all organisers. Politics has no bearing on the sport. We have been practising since June and are determined to make the most of this season. The state government has announced a public holiday on Gokulashtami, August 19, and we will celebrate with fanfare.”
Aniket Medhekar of Hindu Ekta Govinda Pathak, also from Jogeshwari, said, “Personally I am a supporter of the original Shiv Sena founded by Balasaheb Thackeray. But I am one among 300-500 govindas in the mandal. Each of them has worked with some party or other. Our team is famous for breaking the Dadar dahi handi owned by a BJP leader. When we wear Hindu Ekta T-shirt, we forget all other identities and do our best as a pathak.”
