Mumbai:
The high-stake Dahi-Handi celebration during Janmashtami festival arrives in Mumbai. And if the biggest prize money was Rs 21 lakh till last year, it is set to rise three times this year.
"For the kind of risks these boys take, the prize money is nothing," said Jitendra Ahwad, Organiser, Sangarsh Dahi Handi and NCP MLC, Maharashtra Assembly.
Every big Dahi-Handi is affiliated to a political party, the prize money being their magnet. The higher the stakes, the larger the crowd.
"It's sad if Dahi-Handi is getting politicised. It should celebrate and promote Marathi culture," said Ram Kadam, Organiser, Ghatkopar Dahi-Handi and MNS MLA, Maharashtra Assembly.
All parties say it's not about elections it's about promoting Marathi culture.
The fact is, there are over 600 Govinda troops with an average total tally of 10 lakh participants. And given that municipal elections are less than two years away, it's a great opportunity to attract the masses.
The Marathi middle-class that throngs around the Dahi-Handis have lost its dominance in the city because of migration and the real-estate boom.
But they are still a 30 per cent vote bank and their voice decides the fate of the country's richest municipality.
There is nothing substantial the political parties can offer to empower them. Hence, the festival tokenisms continue year after year.