The Govinda world is experiencing a state of projection and expansion. The competition and struggle between leading pathaks to achieve the best constructions and their presence in the media have been decisive in reaching this new status, two variables that have also been crucial in previous booms in the castle world. Now, in Mumbai they have added another element: a pathaks competition to find the champion gang.
The Govindas live their condition with the utmost intensity and passion. But, unlike castles, they have a problem: the thousand existing pathaks (comprising about 100,000 people) only make their constructions on a single day a year, the Dahi Handi, which is celebrated in honor of the Lord Krishna and which it brings identity and symbolism to this world. All year thinking about their castles (with essays included, obviously), to consume all the energy and ambition in a single day.
Competition in two days. The sum of this passion and projection –combined with the frustration of experiencing it only one day a year– have motivated the creation of the Pro Govinda League Season, a competition held over two days, which will end up determining the pathak champion. Last year the first edition was held and this year the second, divided into two sessions: the first took place last July 27 and the final will be next Sunday, the 18th. The Dahi Handi –which varies according to of the religious calendar– this year it will be August 27. In other words, the contest is an excellent prologue to the great Govinda day.
In the preliminary round held on July 27, 32 pathaks participated, of which half have qualified for the day of August 18. On this day there will be four leagues of four groups each, of which the first two will go on to the quarter-finals and the later semi-finals and final.
The constructions that will be executed by each pathak in this final phase of the competition are not free, but are previously determined by the organization. The pathaks must make pyramids following specific guidelines: at the initial stage they must be six stories high, of which the last two are the equivalent of a pilar. In the quarter-finals, they will be seven floors with a pilar of 3 above; in the semi-finals, on the other hand, they will be seven floors, but with a pilar of 2. The final will ask for constructions of eight floors, with a pilar of 3.
The duration. The decisive element to determine who wins on each occasion is, apart from downloading the constructions, time. In other words, whoever takes the least time wins. Crowned-only builds also count, but with a penalty.
The organizers have paid special attention to safety and, for this reason, the topper (enxaneta) climbs with a harness and tied with a rope to a higher structure.
The Catalan influence. One of the significant elements used by the organization is the designation of the success of the constructions in Catalan, following the same guidelines as the castles: descarregat (unloaded), carregat (loaded), intent (attempt) and intent desmuntat (attempt dismantled). It is, without any doubt, a clear influence of castles in the Govinda world. The tone and format– very much thought for the television field –has a clear influence of sport. In fact, each of the 32 finalist pathaks has been linked to a professional sport of cricket or football, such as Western Mumbai, Thane Tiggers, Kolhapur Kings or Pune Panthers, among others.
Since in 2006 there was a first Catalan expedition to Mumbai to participate in the Dahi Handi (made up of Castellers de Vilafranca, Minyons de Terrassa and la Jove de Sitges), the relationship between castles and govindas has increased considerably. Three gangs have traveled to Mumbai to raise their constructions in the Dahi Handi: the Castellers de Vilafranca (2011), the Castellers de Sants (2013) and the Capgrossos de Mataró (2014). Two years ago, around forty govindas went to the Tarragona Competition, supporting the Castellers de Vilafranca. Last year, a delegation from the Greens attended the Dahi Handi, invited by the Govindas themselves and received with the highest honors and protocols.
The construction of the pyramid of 10 is the great challenge of the main pathaks. Last year, a group, Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak, tried it, but it didn’t work out, which did do the 9 five times in the Dahi Handi. Two others also attained it: the Kokan Nagar Govinda Pathak and the Shiv Sai Govinda Pathak.
