‘We Also Want To Celebrate, But Without DJs’: Punekars From Peth Areas, Across City Protest Against Loud DJs

Pune residents gathered at Goodluck Chowk and Abhinav Chowk on Saturday to protest excessive noise from DJs, amplifiers, additional sound systems and extended speakers during religious festivals. The protesters, numbering between 250-300, made it clear that their objection was not to any religion, caste, community or festival, but to the growing culture of extremely loud music during public celebrations. They emphasized that celebrations should be allowed, but not at the cost of residents' peace and well-being.

Pallavi Kumar, a protester at Goodluck Chowk, questioned why an entire neighborhood should suffer due to the loud noise. Sunil Gawade, another protester, criticized the music played during such celebrations, pointing out that it often has no connection to the festival or the deity being worshipped. Instead, it was simply for entertainment, played on massive sound systems and amplifiers.

Yogesh Sarpotdar, a resident of Shaniwar Peth, questioned the government's enforcement of existing noise regulations, calling for a decision on whether to prioritize peaceful festivals or a competition over who can play the loudest DJ.

Rudra, a science student, emphasized that the issue is not about musical preferences but the impact of extremely loud DJ sound on people's health, sleep, work, and study. He urged for a balance between celebrating religion and not causing suffering to others. For Tejas Kadam, the protest also represented a change in Pune's traditional festival culture, where celebrations once focused on community participation, devotion, and traditional music, rather than the volume of sound systems. He worried that the core values of festivals might be disappearing if this culture continues.