In a major milestone, the Byculla-based Dahi Handi Govinda Pathak has completed a century of celebrations, marking a rare achievement among the Dahi Handi pathaks in Mumbai This pathak, known as the Bal Gopal Govinda Utsav Mandal today, was started by textile mill workers residing in the Lalbaug and Byculla neighborhoods and has been dedicated to the practice and performance of Dahi Handi for nearly three generations.
The roots of this Pathak trace back to Marathi people from Roha, Mangaon, Chiplun, Sangameshwar, Lanja, and Rajapur in the Raigad and Ratnagiri districts. They migrated to Mumbai and settled in a chawl in Byculla, famously known as "Gavlayachi Chala" (Villagers' Chawl).Over the years, as Mumbai's urban landscape evolved and many Govinda mandals in the vicinity disbanded, this pathak persevered through countless challenges to uphold the tradition. Shardul Kharpude, a member of the Mandal, recollects the early days when Govindas would traverse different areas of the city to celebrate the Dahi Handi festival. He notes that starting from 1992-93, the Govindas began traveling across Mumbai using trucks and buses for their celebrations.The pathak's journey has seen a transformation from human pyramids with five tiers to impressive pyramids reaching six or seven layers. Kharpude expresses the pathak's determination to nurture and pass on this religious and cultural heritage inherited from their forefathers.