Castells shine in India in a new record for the Govindas

The castellers and the govindas continue to strengthen their ties and share the experiences of the human towers. This summer, the Marrecs de Salt were the fourth group of human tower builders to travel to India to attend the Dahi Handi festival, where the govinda groups (pathak) display their constructions in various squares in the Thane neighborhood (Bombay). This year's edition was also a special one, as two local groups were able to reach 10 floors for the first time in history.

An expedition of more than one hundred castellers wearing blue shirts (the blue Ter, in homage to the river) have traveled to the Asian country, where they have visited rehearsals of various groups before the big festival this Saturday, during which they have completed the 4 of 7 with the spire and the 5 of 7 of their own, achieving a seven-story govinda. Along with the Marrecs, ten members of the Sagals de Osona have traveled, while in India a representation of the Castellers de Vilafranca also awaited them, who this year have become the sponsors of the Pro Govinda 2025 championship held in the first half of August.

The Dahi Handi festival commemorates the birth of the god Krishna. Throughout the day, hundreds of govinda groups complete their constructions in the various plazas, for which they receive a cash prize depending on the height they complete. The constructions have a pyramidal shape and are built from different bases, comparable to the linings, handcuffs, and struts of castles. A pillar rises at the top. The govindas are also noted for their speed in completing them.

One of the novelties in recent years is that in the most prominent plazas, the enxaneta climbs with a harness and a rope tied to a crane to prevent falling.

First 10 govinda floors

This year's Govinda festival was particularly significant, as local groups were able to reach the first 10-story buildings, following several attempts in previous editions. The milestone was further complicated by the heavy downpour that fell throughout the day, which did not prevent them from maintaining their maximum goal.

Thus, Kokan Nagar and Jai Jawan achieved it for the first time, followed by Jai Jawan. The latter did so three times. All four buildings collapsed after being charged, a fairly common occurrence among Govindas.

Fourth gang traveling to India

The Girona residents are, therefore, the fourth human tower group to experience the Govinda festival live. The first to do so, after several individual expeditions by some castellers, were the Castellers de Vilafranca in 2011, who even performed the 3 of 9 in a forro (a kind of "castellers"). The Castellers de Sants attended in 2013, and the Capgrossos de Mataró in 2014 with castells de vuit (a kind of "castells de vuit"). The Bumblebees' experience was also captured in the documentary. Melting Pot.

Gràcia visits the godparents of Montreal

The other long-distance human tower trip this summer was that of the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia (Cultural Towers) to Montreal. The blue-shirted group revisited the Canadian group, of which they are sponsors, ten years after their first visit. The Barcelona natives completed seven towers on a trip in early July.