Pune Residents Protest Against Loud DJ Music Amid Ganeshotsav Noise Debate

Shivajinagar, 30th August 2026: Hundreds of residents from Pune’s Peth areas and other parts of the city gathered on Sunday at Goodluck Chowk and Abhinav Chowk to protest against the use of high-decibel DJs, amplifiers, additional sound systems and extended speakers during religious festivals, particularly ahead of Ganeshotsav.

Around 250–300 people participated in the demonstrations. The gathering at Abhinav Chowk began around 10:30 am, while citizens assembled at Goodluck Chowk from 11 am. Approximately 170–190 protesters signed a memorandum that will be submitted to the Commissioner of Police expressing opposition to loud DJs.

Protesters emphasised that their opposition was not directed at any religion, community, caste or festival itself, but at the excessive noise that disrupts neighbourhoods. “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?” said Pallavi Kumar, one of the participants at Goodluck Chowk.

A science student named Rudra, who joined the protest, highlighted health and quality-of-life concerns: extremely loud DJ sound affects nearby residents who need to work, study or sleep, and can cause hearing damage or other serious health issues. “We want festivals to remain celebrations, but celebrations should not come at the cost of another person’s peace, health and right to live without excessive noise,” he said.

“Goodluck Chowk, Pune. Many people came out in support of banning DJs, dhol-tasha and their assorted cousins that cause insane levels of noise pollution, which has somehow become an ‘essential’ part of every religious celebration in Pune. For citizens, however, it is less a celebration and more a recurring dose of mental and physical torture. We want a complete ban on loudspeakers, DJs, dhol-tasha, plasma systems, lasers and all other forms of excessive noise and visual assault—not just during Ganeshotsav, but during every festival and religious celebration, across all religions. No exceptions. No ‘our festival is different’ arguments. Noise pollution is noise pollution, irrespective of who is celebrating”, Shilpa Godbole tweeted.

“Pune is currently debating pollution. Maybe Ganpati gives us a chance to act on at least one kind that needs no debate at all: garbage. This year, every Ganpati mandal, society and Punekar should take one simple pledge: Celebrate hard. Pray harder. But leave Pune cleaner than you found it. A city of 70 lakh people can have many disagreements. But surely we can all agree that garbage is one pollution we can completely do without. Ganpati Bappa Morya”, tweeted Dr. Sudhir Mehta.

The protest forms part of a broader citizen campaign against noise pollution during festivals. An online petition seeking restrictions or a ban on loud DJ music during Ganeshotsav had gathered more than 23,000 signatures within two days of its launch. Residents have pointed to impacts on the elderly, children, patients and those living near procession routes, with some noting that people sometimes leave their homes during the festival period to escape the noise.

The demonstrations come amid ongoing tensions. Ganesh mandals and some organisers have argued against a complete ban, calling instead for regulated use of sound systems within prescribed noise limits. Police have monitored noise levels, recorded violations, seized certain high-powered equipment such as pressure mids and plasma systems in recent checks, and indicated they are considering limited speaker configurations under rules.

Citizens have stressed support for traditional instruments such as dhol-tasha and for celebrations conducted responsibly, without high-decibel electronic systems that they say turn public festivities into sources of widespread disturbance. The signed representations are expected to be formally submitted to police authorities as the city prepares for the upcoming festival season.