Dahi Handi

The infant Krishna and his friends stole butter and curd from the gopis' houses, who took to hanging the pots from the rafters, so the boys formed a pyramid to reach them.

A pot of curd, butter and money is hung high across a street. Teams of govindas form human pyramids to break it. Now a large organised event with prize money and sponsorship, and in Maharashtra a genuine competitive sport.

Gopalkala, poha, curd, cucumber, chilli and coconut, distributed after.

Overwhelmingly a Maharashtra festival, especially Mumbai and Thane; also in Gujarat and among Marathi communities elsewhere. Not observed in the north or south.