03:23Thousands of revellers flocked to Mumbai on Tuesday to participate in 'Dahi Handi', a unique festival which sees participants form towering human pyramids to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.
Footage shows huge crowds cheering as participants, known as 'Govindas', climb on each other, forming multi-tiered pyramids to break curd-filled clay pots ('Dahi Handis') suspended in the air.
Teams known as 'Pathaks' compete for prizes during the competition, which comes a day after the Janmashtami festival, putting their strength, balance and communication skills to the test.
"We have to support each other, and we have to step forward towards success. So this is the message," a participant said.
"We have been celebrating this occasion for the last ten years. We are very proud, and the boys are all below 30 years. So we started in 2015, and still, all this is going on," he added.
Multiple injuries are reported during the event each year as competitors lose their balance and fall from great heights. At least 41 Govindas were hurt during Tuesday's festivities in Mumbai, according to local police.
The Dahi Handi festival is based on Krishna's childhood. According to legend, the god was known for his mischievousness and would steal butter and curd as a boy, earning him the name 'Makhan chor' or butter thief.
Krishna's neighbours would hang pots of dairy products out of Krishna's reach, leaving him to find creative ways to get them do
Lean on me! Teams form human pyramids to reach curd-filled pots at Mumbai’s Dahi Handi festival
Thousands of revellers flocked to Mumbai on Tuesday to participate in 'Dahi Handi', a unique festival which sees participants form towering human pyramids to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.
Footage shows huge crowds cheering as participants, known as 'Govindas', climb on each other, forming multi-tiered pyramids to break curd-filled clay pots ('Dahi Handis') suspended in the air.
Teams known as 'Pathaks' compete for prizes during the competition, which comes a day after the Janmashtami festival, putting their strength, balance and communication skills to the test.
"We have to support each other, and we have to step forward towards success. So this is the message," a participant said.
"We have been celebrating this occasion for the last ten years. We are very proud, and the boys are all below 30 years. So we started in 2015, and still, all this is going on," he added.
Multiple injuries are reported during the event each year as competitors lose their balance and fall from great heights. At least 41 Govindas were hurt during Tuesday's festivities in Mumbai, according to local police.
The Dahi Handi festival is based on Krishna's childhood. According to legend, the god was known for his mischievousness and would steal butter and curd as a boy, earning him the name 'Makhan chor' or butter thief.
Krishna's neighbours would hang pots of dairy products out of Krishna's reach, leaving him to find creative ways to get them do
Thousands of revellers flocked to Mumbai on Tuesday to participate in 'Dahi Handi', a unique festival which sees participants form towering human pyramids to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.
Footage shows huge crowds cheering as participants, known as 'Govindas', climb on each other, forming multi-tiered pyramids to break curd-filled clay pots ('Dahi Handis') suspended in the air.
Teams known as 'Pathaks' compete for prizes during the competition, which comes a day after the Janmashtami festival, putting their strength, balance and communication skills to the test.
"We have to support each other, and we have to step forward towards success. So this is the message," a participant said.
"We have been celebrating this occasion for the last ten years. We are very proud, and the boys are all below 30 years. So we started in 2015, and still, all this is going on," he added.
Multiple injuries are reported during the event each year as competitors lose their balance and fall from great heights. At least 41 Govindas were hurt during Tuesday's festivities in Mumbai, according to local police.
The Dahi Handi festival is based on Krishna's childhood. According to legend, the god was known for his mischievousness and would steal butter and curd as a boy, earning him the name 'Makhan chor' or butter thief.
Krishna's neighbours would hang pots of dairy products out of Krishna's reach, leaving him to find creative ways to get them do