What Happens When Festival Celebrations Take Over Public Spaces? Pune Play ‘Dhol-Tashe’ Explores
Pune, 11th September 2026: A special theatrical reading of the Marathi play “Dhol-Tashe” will be held in Pune on September 19 as part of an initiative aimed at raising awareness about excessive noise, public space usage and the impact of large-scale celebrations on urban life.
The programme is being jointly organised by Aarambh Foundation and Point of View- The Media Hub. The reading will be held at The Box, Pune, at 6 pm.
Written by playwright Champra Deshpande around two decades ago, “Dhol-Tashe” examines the growing extravagance surrounding public festivals and its impact on society. According to the organisers, the issues addressed by the play continue to remain relevant amid concerns over traffic congestion, the use of roads for temporary pandals and rising noise levels during public celebrations.
The reading will feature Marathi theatre and film artistes including Vaibhav Mangle, Smita Shewale and Vidyadhar Joshi, along with other artistes. The organisers said they intend to take the reading to different audiences and locations through the year, using theatre as a medium to encourage discussion around responsible public celebrations.
The initiative comes amid recurring concerns in cities over the use of loudspeakers, DJs and dhol-tasha performances during festivals, alongside traffic and public-space issues associated with large celebrations.
The organisers have estimated the cost of conducting each reading at around ₹1 lakh. This includes theatre rental, sound arrangements, artistes’ remuneration, travel and accommodation, rehearsals and other production expenses.
Four sponsors are being sought for the September 19 programme, with a contribution of ₹25,000 each towards the event expenses. Sponsors will receive branding and acknowledgement as part of the event’s promotional activities, including the screening of a one-minute film during the programme and a brief felicitation at the event.
Point of View- The Media Hub director Dr Girish Rangnekar said, “‘Dhol Tashe’ is more than a theatrical performance; it is an awareness initiative presented through an engaging and impactful medium. We are grateful to Aarambh Foundation for joining us in taking this meaningful program to a wider audience.”
Aarambh Foundation’s Umesh Pawar said, “Through ‘Dhol Tasha,’ we aim to use the power of theatre to create awareness while encouraging talented Marathi artists. This joint initiative with Point of View- The Media Hub reflects our commitment to supporting meaningful cultural activities that educate, inspire and bring society together.”
The organisers said the broader plan is to continue the readings through the year and take the play’s message to different communities and locations.
