Ganpati festival: Latur police roll out ‘No DJ, No Dolby’ drive

The Latur police have announced a "No DJ, No Dolby" initiative for the upcoming Ganpati festival in Maharashtra's Latur district, urging mandals to refrain from using DJs, Dolby sound systems and other high-volume amplifiers. Superintendent of Police Amol Tambe warned that violations of noise pollution norms could result in legal action.

The 10-day festival commences on September 14, prompting a rise in calls for noise-free celebrations. Activist Vidyanad Bapat from Pune is among those opposing the use of high-decibel sound systems. The police have appealed to all Ganesh mandals in the district to cooperate and support the initiative, recommending traditional instruments like dhol-tasha, lezim, halgi and taal-mrudung to maintain noise limits and ensure a peaceful, disciplined atmosphere.

Mandals or individuals found violating noise pollution regulations will face legal consequences. Police officials emphasized that Ganeshotsav should be about joy, not noise, tradition, not pollution.