India, Aug. 15 -- The Bombay high court on Thursday declined to grant permission for holding the Dahi Handi festival at Ashok Kedare Chowk in Bhandup West to either the Shiv Sena or the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), after police rejected both their applications citing law and order concerns.

Dahi Handi, to be celebrated on August 16 this year, marks the birth of Lord Krishna and recreates the mythological episode of young Krishna breaking pots of butter hung high in the air. The festival sees groups of participants - known as 'govindas' - form human pyramids to reach and smash the pot.

A division bench of justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor was hearing a petition filed by Sandip Jalgaonkar, a former MNS functionary who later joined...