Dahi Handi Mandals in Mumbai Cancel Celebrations Ahead of Janmashtami 2019 to Donate For Maharashtra Flood Relief
Several Dahi Handi mandals across the city have decided not to celebrate the festival this year and instead donate the money for the rehabilitation of the people affected by floods in Sangli and Kolhapur. The event is expected to be a subdued affair this year, with several mandals opting out of it.
Mumbai, August 20: Ahead of Janmashtami 2019, several Dahi Handi mandals across the city have decided not to celebrate the festival this year and instead donate the money for the rehabilitation of the people affected by floods in Sangli and Kolhapur. The event is expected to be a subdued affair this year, with several mandals opting out of it. Janmashtami 2019: The Amazing Story of Lord Krishna’s Birth.
According to a Hindustan Times report, Ram Kadam, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Ghatkopar, who is known for his grand Dahi Handi celebrations has cancelled the celebrations this time. Kadam said that focus this time should on relief work and not on spending money on Dahi Handi celebrations. Kadam further appealed to other organisers to cancel their events and divert the money towards flood relief work.
The amount which Kadam will be sending for the flood relief work is not disclosed. Reportedly, his decision did not fare well with Dahi Handi mandals and they are not happy with the cancellation of the event. Rains created havoc in Maharashtra this year, and Sangli was one of the worst affected in the deluge.
In one of the biggest rescue operations, various government agencies and the armed forces rescued and evacuated around 75,000 flood-affected people, including 66,000 from the worst affected Kolhapur and Sangli districts.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2019 12:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).