3 days ago
Punekars Demand DJ Ban as Ganesh Festival Debate Intensifies
People in Pune protested against very loud DJ music during the Ganesh festival.
They said the noise can make people feel sick and disturb sleep, study and work.
Some protesters said they leave the city during the loud immersion processions.
They explained that they are not against religion or festivals.
They want people to celebrate, but without extremely loud speakers and amplifiers.
The protest took place at Goodluck Chowk and Abhinav Chowk.
Ganesh mandal representatives said a complete ban would unfairly target them.
They said they would avoid some sound-system devices and follow government rules.
The Ganesh festival was scheduled to begin on September 14.
Hundreds of Pune residents protested against high-decibel DJs, amplifiers and sound systems during the upcoming Ganesh festival.
Protesters said unbearable noise makes people ill, disrupts neighbourhoods and leads some residents to leave the city during immersion processions.
They stressed that their objection was to excessive noise, not to any religion, caste, community or festival.
Around 250-300 people gathered at Goodluck Chowk and Abhinav Chowk, with 170-190 signing a statement for the Commissioner of Police.
Ganesh mandal representatives opposed a complete ban, cited Mutha river pollution and promised to avoid certain devices and follow administrative guidelines.
- Who
- Around 250-300 Pune residents, including people from the Peth areas and other parts of the city, protested; Ganesh mandal representatives opposed a complete ban.
- What
- Residents demanded a ban or strong restrictions on loud DJs, amplifiers, additional sound systems and extended speakers during Ganesh festival celebrations.
- Where
- Goodluck Chowk and Abhinav Chowk in Pune.
- When
- The reports describe the protest as occurring on August 30, with one report calling it Sunday and another describing it as Saturday; the festival was scheduled to begin September 14.
- Why
- Protesters said excessive noise harms residents’ health, peace, sleep, study and work, while mandal representatives said a complete ban unfairly targets Ganesh mandals.
Residents seeking noise controls
Ganesh mandal representatives
Whether DJs should be banned
Residents seeking noise controls
Protesters demanded a complete ban or strong restrictions, saying extreme sound makes people ill and forces some residents to leave the city during immersion processions.
Ganesh mandal representatives
Mandal representatives objected to a complete ban and alleged that the demand selectively targeted Ganesh mandals.
Effect of loud sound
Residents seeking noise controls
Residents said high-decibel DJs, amplifiers and extra speakers disturb neighbourhoods and affect children, elderly people, patients, students and working people.
Ganesh mandal representatives
Mandal representatives said they had resolved not to use pressure-mid and plasma devices, claiming this would reduce noise.
Broader civic concerns
Residents seeking noise controls
Protesters focused on enforcing existing noise regulations while allowing religious and cultural celebrations to continue.
Ganesh mandal representatives
A mandal representative said people demanding restrictions were ignoring pollution in the Mutha river.
Key facts
- Estimated attendance
- Approximately 250-300 people participated.
- Protest locations
- Goodluck Chowk and Abhinav Chowk in Pune.
- Signed statement
- Around 170-190 participants signed a statement opposing DJs.
- Statement recipient
- The statement was intended for the Commissioner of Police.
- Festival date
- The Ganesh festival was scheduled to begin on September 14.
- Residents’ demand
- A complete ban or effective restrictions on high-decibel DJ systems and related equipment.
- Organisers’ response
- Ganesh mandals said they would avoid devices such as pressure-mid and plasma and follow administrative guidelines.
Quotes
A Ganesh mandal representative
A representative of a Ganesh festival organising group
“The government needs to decide what it actually wants: peaceful festivals or a competition over who can play the loudest DJ. There are already noise rules in place, so why are ordinary citizens forced to repeatedly raise the same issue? Why is enforcement so weak when the consequences are faced by residents, children, senior citizens and working people?”
freepressjournal.in
“We are not against any religion, community, caste or festival. People have every right to celebrate their festivals. Our objection is only to the unbearable noise created by DJs, additional sound systems, amplifiers and extended speakers. Why should celebrating a festival mean that the entire neighbourhood has to suffer from extremely loud sound?”
freepressjournal.in
Ganesh mandal representative
A representative of a Ganesh festival organising group
“The Mutha river is polluted, but who is raising the issue? They only want to target Ganesh Mandals”
theprint.in
A protester
A Pune resident protesting loud music during the Ganesh festival
“These high-decibel music systems being used for the past few years are making us ill. We leave the city for two to three days during the Ganesh immersion processions. We want a complete ban on the use of DJ sound systems”
m.rediff.com
Sources
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