Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced in Assembly on Thursday that the Government will accord adventure sport status to Dahi Handi, which is performed on the festival of Sri Krishna Janmastami.

Dahi Handi event is a popular festival in which a human pyramid is formed to break an earthen pot filled with curd hanging mid-air. The adventure sport tag will allow young participants called Govindas in Dahi Handi events, organized to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, to apply for Government jobs under the sports quota.

Participants or their families will be provided with compensation in case of fatal or other injuries suffered by the players during the formation of human pyramids. This year the festival which will be celebrated without any restrictions this year, said CM.

In case of unfortunate death of a participant during the formation of human pyramids, his/her kin would get Rs 10 lakh as compensation from the State Government. A player suffering serious injuries would receive Rs 7 lakh, while one with fractures would be paid Rs 5 lakh, he said. The State Government would also bear the medical treatment cost of Govindas in case they suffer injuries, he added.