Acting on a Bombay High Court order aimed at curbing noise pollution, authorities have banned the use of DJ systems during Ganeshotsav in Mumbai. The HC ruling, which limits noise levels to 50 decibels between 10 PM and 6 AM, allows police to seize speakers, mixers and other equipment from violators. Organisers have been encouraged to use traditional instruments instead of amplified music.

The first of the city’s public Ganpati idols at major mandals in Lalbaug, Parel and Dadar, began arriving on Sunday, accompanied by steady dhol-tasha beats. While the processions marked the start of the festive season, they unfolded under the shadow of heightened enforcement measures.

Mumbai Police have warned that any breach of the order could result in fines, the suspension of a mandal’s licence and additional restrictions on its pandals. Officers will monitor processions closely to ensure compliance.

Despite an uproar by local mandals, officials maintain that the ban is necessary, citing previous instances where deafening music caused serious health issues, including fatalities. Despite repeated warnings from community leaders and police, some Ganpati mandals have persisted in playing high-volume music during processions in past years.

But this year, Mumbai’s celebrations are set to blend devotion with discipline, as the city prepares for its most beloved festival under unprecedented noise controls.