Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Pune Bids Farewell to Bappa Amid Noise Pollution Debate
Pune’s 10-day Ganesh festival ended with a large procession on Anant Chaturdashi.
People carried Ganesh idols toward places where they would be immersed.
More than 600 organized groups used four main roads in the city.
Many families also took their own idols for immersion.
This year, people debated how loud the celebrations should be.
Vidyanand Bapat spoke against very loud music and percussion, and he was assaulted while speaking to a television channel.
Police registered 71 cases related to noise pollution before the final day.
Thousands of police officers, cameras and special technology were used to manage crowds, traffic and safety.
Pune began its Anant Chaturdashi immersion procession after a traditional puja for Shri Kasba Ganpati, the first Manacha Ganpati.
More than 600 Ganesh mandals were scheduled to travel along four main routes before immersions at river ghats and artificial tanks.
Noise pollution became a major festival debate after resident Vidyanand Bapat opposed excessive DJ, loudspeaker and dhol-tasha noise.
Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad police registered 71 noise-pollution cases before Visarjan day and deployed 120 decibel-monitoring teams.
Around 10,000 Pune police personnel, more than 3,500 cameras and AI-based surveillance were used for crowd and traffic management.
- Who
- Pune’s Ganesh mandals, household devotees, police, and resident Vidyanand Bapat were involved in the events and debate.
- What
- Pune concluded Ganeshotsav with Ganesh idol processions and immersions amid a debate over noise pollution.
- When
- On Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the 10-day festival, beginning around 9:30 a.m. on Friday.
- Where
- The processions used Laxmi Road, Tilak Road, Kelkar Road and Kumthekar Road, converging at Alka Talkies Chowk before immersion.
- Why
- The processions marked the festival’s conclusion, while authorities deployed extensive security and monitoring to manage crowds, traffic and noise.
Noise Regulation Advocates
Traditional Festival Celebrations
Sound levels during celebrations
Noise Regulation Advocates
Vidyanand Bapat opposed excessive noise from DJs, loudspeakers and dhol-tashas; police deployed decibel-meter teams and registered noise-pollution cases.
Traditional Festival Celebrations
Ganesh mandals and other participants continued organizing processions featuring dhol-tasha performances, while the article says they reacted to the debate and held meetings with police about performance duration.
Questioning established practices
Noise Regulation Advocates
Supporters of stricter controls argued that citizens should be able to question loud celebration practices, a debate intensified after Bapat was assaulted while speaking to a television channel.
Traditional Festival Celebrations
The festival proceeded through its established procession and immersion traditions, with large numbers of mandals and devotees participating; the article does not specify the detailed positions of individual mandals or politicians.
- Festival occasion
- Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the 10-day Ganeshotsav festival
- Main starting idol
- Shri Kasba Ganpati, the first Manacha Ganpati
- Procession routes
- Laxmi Road, Tilak Road, Kelkar Road and Kumthekar Road
- Participating groups
- More than 600 Ganesh mandals, in addition to household idols and other mandals
- Noise cases
- 71 cases registered by Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad police before Visarjan day
- Police deployment
- About 10,000 Pune police personnel and officers, plus 4,000 Pimpri Chinchwad police personnel
- Surveillance
- More than 3,500 cameras, AI-based monitoring and a dedicated war room
- Traffic closures
- Seventeen major roads were scheduled to close in phases