State pulls out of Pro Govinda League even as prize amount reaches record Rs 1.5 crore | Mumbai News
Mumbai: Sixteen local govinda teams bearing names like Nagpur Ninjas, Lucknow Panthers and Surat Titans will bid for cash prizes worth Rs 1.5 crore during this year’s dahi handi festival, thanks to an IPL style bid by owners from different parts of India. However, the Maharashtra govt will no longer co-host or sponsor the event as it did during the previous two years.The organiser, Pro Govinda League, has announced its highest ever prize amount of Rs 1.5 crore for winning teams this season. The championship will be held at the NSCI Dome on Aug 7, 8 and 9. On July 5, a competitive auction was held wherein 16 govinda ‘pathaks’ were acquired by various team owners.Pro Govinda League was started by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in Thane in 2018. In 2023-24 the state govt had sponsored the event during his party peer Eknath Shinde‘s tenure as chief minister. This year that partnership has ended. Organisers say the move is not linked to having a BJP CM in Devendra Fadnavis.Sarnaik’s son, Purvesh, league president, said, “We ourselves did not approach the govt for sponsorship this year. But we have managed to get more private sponsors and telecast partners. We held an auction for 16 teams and have signed a three-year contract with the players and franchisees. We have also announced renowned cricketer Chris Gayle as our brand ambassador. We are disbursing our highest ever prize amount of Rs 1.5 crore for the finale, with Rs 75 lakh for the winning team, Rs 50 lakh for second place winner and Rs 25 lakh for the team that secures third place. Additionally, each participating team will receive Rs 3 lakh.” Team names are no longer restricted to Maharashtra-based titles, allowing owners to select city based identities from across India, giving the competition a “broader national character”, said Sarnaik.
