Maharashtra officials debate DJ bans during religious festivals

Maharashtra is facing intense debate over the use of high-decibel DJ systems during religious festivals, particularly ahead of the Ganeshotsav celebrations. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called for a return to traditional celebrations and urged stakeholders to reach a consensus to avoid confrontation. He compared the noise from powerful DJ systems to the sound of an earthquake.

In Pune, the controversy has escalated following an assault on activist Vidyanand Bapat, who has been campaigning against noise pollution. The incident sparked multiple protests by groups like the Loudspeaker-Virodhi Punekar Manch, demanding stricter enforcement of noise limits and the banning of high-decibel sound systems.

Government officials are divided on the approach. Minister of State for Public Health Meghna Bordikar has advocated for a statewide ban on DJs, citing a personal tragedy where a relative died due to the effects of loud music during a procession. Meanwhile, other officials emphasize the need for strict police enforcement of existing Supreme Court and High Court noise regulations to protect public health and community harmony.