The growing greed of Govinda teams for prizes worth lakhs during the Dahi Handi festival is evident. This year, especially in Mumbai and Thane, the festival was celebrated on a grand scale. However, the celebrations were marred by excessive noise pollution, with DJs blaring far beyond permissible limits. At several venues, female dancers were made to perform to vulgar and meaningless songs instead of traditional devotional music, stripping the festival of its spiritual essence. Many organizers appeared to turn the festival into a commercial spectacle, distorting its virtuous tradition.
Adding to this, the festival stage also became a battleground for ruling party leaders vying for popularity, reducing the sacred occasion to a tool for political publicity. Ironically, leaders who claim to uphold Hindutva seemed oblivious to the consequences of their actions.
