30 August,2026 12:54 PM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
Around 42 representatives of Ganesh mandals attended a meeting of the Pune City Ganeshotsav Committee. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The office-bearers of Pune's Ganesh mandals have supported restrictions on DJs and plasma sound systems if they cause inconvenience to citizens, but have demanded that similar limits be imposed on dhol-tasha groups as well. The mandals said the same rules should apply uniformly to all participants in the Ganeshotsav 2026 celebrations.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Pune City Ganeshotsav Committee held at the Balasaheb Thackeray Art Gallery. The meeting was convened on the initiative of committee convenor Sanjay Balgude and was attended by office-bearers of 42 Ganesh mandals from different parts of the city.
The representatives said Ganeshotsav belongs to the entire city and should not gradually become an event dominated by a handful of prominent mandals. They alleged that police and civic authorities often give preferential treatment to certain mandals while smaller and less prominent mandals are treated differently.
Speaking to mid-day.com, Balgude said, "We are not opposing the ban on DJs, but the same rules must be applicable to everyone."
He also questioned the system used to monitor noise levels during the festival. According to him, the authorities do not always have adequate equipment or a proper mechanism to accurately measure decibel levels.
"There are certain junctions such as Alka Talkies, Abhinav Chowk, and Jedhe Chowk where processions from different directions converge during visarjan. Naturally, the noise level increases at these locations. A proper system is required to determine responsibility rather than taking action selectively," Balgude said.
The mandal representatives also alleged that police cases are filed against Ganesh mandal workers every year over festival-related issues. Balgude claimed that around 300 cases were registered against mandals last year, and demanded that such cases against volunteers be withdrawn.
The representatives questioned why strict noise-related restrictions were enforced specifically during Ganeshotsav when several other festivals and public events are held throughout the year. They also raised concerns over restrictions on pedestrian movement during the Ganeshotsav period.
Balgude alleged that the focus during the immersion procession is disproportionately placed on Laxmi Road, while mandals using other immersion routes receive comparatively less attention and facilities.
He said prestigious and traditional mandals are given greater recognition, while other mandals are often treated as secondary.
"If this situation continues, there is a fear that Pune's Ganeshotsav will eventually be reduced to celebrations by just eight to 10 mandals," representatives said at the meeting.
The demand for uniformity comes amid an escalating dispute over DJs and high-decibel sound systems during Ganeshotsav. A citizen-led protest is scheduled in Pune on Sunday, reflecting growing differences between residents seeking stricter noise controls and Ganesh mandals demanding a consistent and fair regulatory framework.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has maintained that restrictions on plasma and pressure-mid sound systems are based on existing noise pollution regulations and will be enforced without political or commercial considerations.
Police have already begun enforcement, with sound systems seized at six locations during processions on Wednesday for allegedly using prohibited plasma and pressure-mid equipment. Police also recorded 148 noise-level violations after conducting more than 1,000 checks.
Ganesh mandals, however, have opposed what they describe as excessive and inconsistent restrictions. At a recent PMC meeting, representatives demanded permission for four bass and four top DJ systems, the use of loudspeakers until midnight and a uniform policy that would remain consistent from year to year. They have also sought a single-window mechanism for obtaining permissions from civic and police authorities.
