It is a sign of changing times: Janmashtami festival is going hi- tech for the first time with groups of govindas taking help of the Global Positioning System technology to locate and break dahi handis in Mumbai and its surrounding areas.
Taking help of GPS technology will not only save time but will also help Govinda groups in determining the best possible route for reaching a particular dahi handi. In order to take benefit of the service, the groups just have to visit www.dahikala.com and spot the exact location of a dahi handi.
The big idea of using GPS technology to locate handis is a brainchild of IT professional Rajesh Amberkar and his three other friends.
The website will also facilitate access to an ambulance service provider and give the numbers of a medical and police helpline. A big bonus is a special insurance scheme for govindas.
Speaking to us, Rajesh Amberkar, who works with Teknowits Technologies of GPS Pvt Ltd, said, “ The software designed by us will help govindas with directions on a Google Map interface. As we were born and brought up in Girgaon we were a part of a govinda group and we used to go about handis across Mumbai. From our experience we know how govindas waste their time in searching for handis and so we decided to design a software that would help us in locating handis with the help of GPS technology.
” At present the website is completely functional and has all the information about various dahi handis in the city; including details of the organisers, prize money and govinda groups. More than 160 govinda groups have already registered themselves with the website and around 25 dahi handi organisers are taking help of the website to invite govindas in their respective areas.
Speaking to our reporter, Arun Patil of the Mazgaon Govinda Pathak, a group that holds the record for erecting a nine- floor pyramid in 2008, said, “ The GPS technology will surely help us in saving time and breaking more handis. It would also help the festival in gaining global exposure.”
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