‘Stop Mumbai Dahi Handi If You Have Courage’: BJP’s Ghate Warns Pune Police, Ganesh Mandals Warn of Immersion Boycott If Speaker Curbs Imposed

Pune, 19th August 2026: BJP Pune city president Dhiraj Ghate on Wednesday warned the police against imposing unilateral restrictions on Pune’s historic Ganeshotsav, questioning why similar curbs were not being imposed on Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai.

“If you have the courage, stop Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai. Why are conditions and restrictions being imposed only on Pune’s Ganeshotsav?” Ghate said. He demanded that the police and administration consult Ganesh mandals before taking any decision on the festival.

The issue has triggered resentment among Ganesh mandal and Dahi Handi workers after police stopped attempts to play DJs at some locations in central Pune. Deputy Commissioner of Police Krushikesh Rawale had opposed the use of DJs and switched off the speakers. Police have also indicated that a similar stand would be taken during the upcoming Dahi Handi celebrations.

BJP’s Pune Municipal Corporation house leader Ganesh Bidkar said the issue would be discussed with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister Murlidhar Mohol and Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil. Ganesh mandal workers who met Bidkar and Ghate warned that if police imposed restrictions on speakers, they would not take their Ganesh idols out of the mandaps for immersion.

Meanwhile, Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, urged Ganesh mandals to use the festival to promote Marathi culture, art and music and give the younger generation a positive direction. He appealed to mandals to promote drug-free living, cyber safety, responsible use of social media, education and skill development, along with women’s safety, environmental conservation, road safety, blood and organ donation and social harmony.