Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Maharashtra Seeks UNESCO World Heritage Status for Dahi Handi
Dahi Handi is a happy festival in Maharashtra, India, that happens after Krishna Janmashtami, when people celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.
During the festival, young people called Govindas make tall human pyramids to break a pot that hangs high up and is filled with curd, butter, and milk.
A minister named Ashish Shelar said the government wants Dahi Handi to be protected by UNESCO, an organisation that takes care of special traditions around the world.
He also said Govindas will travel to Spain, because people there also build human towers, which they call castells.
Spanish teams sometimes come to Mumbai and Thane to join the Dahi Handi festival.
The minister asked everyone in the festival to follow safety and traffic rules so no one gets hurt.
He reminded people that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis helped the Govindas when there was a court case about the festival.
Shelar also said that people who want to put restrictions on festivals like Ganeshotsav, Nag Panchami, and Dahi Handi might be linked to urban Naxalism.
He said safety and the environment are important, but banning traditional festivals is not acceptable.
The government promised to protect Maharashtra's traditional and Hindu festivals.
Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said the government will seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the traditional Dahi Handi festival.
The government will also send Govinda teams to Spain, where communities build human towers called castells, to showcase the festival.
Shelar urged Dahi Handi organisers and Govinda teams to follow safety and traffic regulations so pedestrians and citizens are not inconvenienced.
Shelar alleged that organisations repeatedly seeking restrictions on festivals including Ganeshotsav, Nag Panchami and Dahi Handi may be linked to urban Naxalism.
The minister recalled that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly supported Govinda teams when the matter over Dahi Handi restrictions reached the Supreme Court.
- Who
- Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, with Maharashtra State Dahi Handi Govinda Association president Bala Padelkar attending the event
- What
- Announced government efforts to get Dahi Handi on UNESCO's World Heritage list and plans to send Govinda teams to Spain
- When
- Sunday
- Where
- The 'Krishnanand Sohala' event organised by the Maharashtra State Dahi Handi Govinda Association in Parel, Mumbai
- Why
- To promote and protect Maharashtra's traditional Dahi Handi festival and its shared human-pyramid tradition with Spain, while urging compliance with safety and traffic rules
Advocates of Festival Restrictions
Supporters of Traditional Festival Celebrations
Restrictions on traditional festivals
Advocates of Festival Restrictions
Environmental, public safety and traffic concerns should be addressed, and certain organisations have repeatedly sought restrictions on festivals including Ganeshotsav, Nag Panchami and Dahi Handi.
Supporters of Traditional Festival Celebrations
While concerns should be addressed, continuously imposing restrictions and eventually moving towards banning Maharashtra's traditional and Hindu festivals is not acceptable, according to the minister.
Urban Naxalism allegation
Advocates of Festival Restrictions
Groups raising environmental, safety and traffic concerns say these are legitimate grounds for regulating festival celebrations.
Supporters of Traditional Festival Celebrations
Shelar directly alleged that people demanding such restrictions may be linked to urban Naxalism, and said the government will protect Maharashtra's traditional and Hindu festivals.
Legal battle over Dahi Handi
Advocates of Festival Restrictions
Restrictions on Dahi Handi celebrations had been in place, prompting a legal battle involving Govinda teams.
Supporters of Traditional Festival Celebrations
Govinda teams fought the restrictions in court, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly supported their cause when the matter reached the Supreme Court.
- Announced By
- Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister
- Key Announcements
- UNESCO World Heritage bid for Dahi Handi; Govinda teams to be sent to Spain
- Event
- Krishnanand Sohala
- Organizer
- Maharashtra State Dahi Handi Govinda Association
- Location
- Parel, Mumbai
- Festival Context
- Celebrated after Krishna Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna
- Spain Connection
- Spanish communities build human towers called castells; Spanish teams visit Mumbai and Thane
- Chief Minister Cited
- Devendra Fadnavis supported Govindas in the Supreme Court battle
