Mumbai, Aug 11 (PTI) With coronavirus casting its grim shadow, several `Dahi-handi' groups in Maharashtra have decided to celebrate the Janmashtami festival on Wednesday in a low-key manner and without human pyramids.

Dahi-handi -- earthen pitchers of curd or buttermilk -- will be broken only symbolically, said Bala Padalkar, chief of the Dahi-handi Utsav Samnavay Samiti, an umbrella body of over 950 `mandals' (groups) in the state.

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In normal times, the highlight of the festival is multi-level human pyramids of `Govindas' reaching for the Dahi handi, strung high up on a rope.

Padalkar said that members of the Samiti decided that no human pyramids will be formed this year, in keeping with the social distancing norms.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Extends Janmashtami 2020 Greetings To Nation, Says 'Jai Shri Krishna'.

The handi will be broken in a symbolic manner, taking all precautions with participants wearing face masks, he said.

"The enthusiasm won't be the same this year," he told PTI.

"But all of us have agreed not to celebrate the festival in the usual manner. Considering the brave fight the COVID-19 warriors are putting up, we will be helping them in every way possible. We will avoid big gatherings," he said.

Troupes of Govindas will not move from one spot to another to build pyramids, but will perform puja in their own areas, he said.

As few people as possible will take part in the celebrations, he added.

Mandals will also organise blood donation camps and other activities considering the health crisis, Padalkar said.

Sandeep Dhawale, coach of the city-based Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak (troupe), echoed him.

"Youngsters are disappointed. But it is in the interest of our collective health to observe social distancing," Dhawale said.

His mandal will organise a plastic waste collection drive on Wednesday, he said.

"We will collect plastic and recycle it. The fund raised through it will be used for the education of the needy. We will follow the government's norms," Dhawale added. PTI ENM KRK KRK 08112044 NNNN officially resumed on Thursday with third-place Sevilla defeating city rival Real Betis 2-0.

The victory kept Madrid two points behind Barcelona, which returned on Saturday with a 4-0 rout at Mallorca. Eibar and Mallorca are both fighting relegation.

Madrid dominated from the start and Kroos opened the scoring with a shot into the top corner in the fourth minute. Ramos added to the lead from close range in the 30th after a pass by Hazard, who started the buildup for Marcelo's strike from inside the area in the 37th.

Eibar, sitting two points outside the relegation zone, got its only goal from Pedro Bigas in the 60th.

Ramos had scored the first goal at the Alfredo Di Stéfano when it was inaugurated with an exhibition match in 2006.

"The truth is we are all thrilled to be back on the field again," Ramos said.

"We couldn't wait for the league to start again, to compete again, and the best way to do that is with a win."

Madrid is expected to play all of its remaining home matches at the Alfredo Di Stéfano because the Bernabéu will continue to undergo renovation work during the summer.

The club is likely to remain at the stadium for the rest of the season even if fans are allowed back before then, which the league has said is a possibility.

ATLÉTICO HELD

Atlético Madrid's struggles continued as its season resumed after being held 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao for its third straight league draw.

The setback kept Diego Simeone's team in sixth place, outside the Champions League spots.

The goals at the empty San Mamés Stadium came a couple of minutes apart late in the first half, with Athletic's Iker Muniain scoring in the 37th and Atlético equalizing with Diego Costa in the 39th for his first goal since last October.

During the celebration, Costa held the jersey of Atlético women's team player Virginia Torrecilla, who is recovering from brain surgery to remove a tumor.

It was the 13th league draw for Atlético, which has only two wins in its last nine league matches.

"We earned a draw at a tough place but we need to start winning three points if we want to stay in contention to qualify for the Champions League," Atlético midfielder Jorge "Koke" Resurrección said.

"It will be difficult if we don't start winning matches."

Atlético's last match before the break had been an away victory against Liverpool that eliminated the titleholders in the Champions League round of 16. But Atlético had drawn its last two league matches — against Sevilla and Espanyol — to drop in the standings and remain far from the leaders. It trails Barcelona by 15 points with 10 rounds left.

Atlético has the same 46 points as fifth-place Getafe and is a point behind fourth-place Real Sociedad, which drew 1-1 with Osasuna at home on Sunday.

Athletic, which had won two in a row before the break, stayed in 10th place. AP

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)