Raj Thackeray has called for regulations governing the use of DJs and Dolby sound systems during festivals in Maharashtra, linking the issue to rising noise pollution and changes in the way public celebrations are conducted.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president made the remarks at a meeting of party office-bearers at Gadkari Rangayatan in Thane on September 6, according to a report by Loksatta – Thane. He questioned why festivals were increasingly being celebrated with high-volume sound systems instead of traditional practices.
“Why are we using Dolby and DJs during festivals? Why are festivals not being celebrated in a traditional manner?” Thackeray said, according to the report. He also said that there should be a set of rules governing how festivals are celebrated.
Thackeray referred to ongoing disagreements over DJ use in Pune and said DJs had been prohibited in Nagpur while continuing to operate elsewhere in Maharashtra. He questioned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the differing approach, according to the report.
The comments come amid recurring public disputes over amplified music during festivals, processions and other gatherings. The report did not cite any new government order or statewide policy announced alongside Thackeray’s remarks. It also did not specify proposed decibel limits, permitted hours, enforcement mechanisms or penalties under the rules he called for.
Thackeray said the manner in which festivals are celebrated was changing and alleged that cultural practices from other parts of India were being adopted in Maharashtra. He specifically referred to dancing on Govinda platforms and described it as an influence from North India. His remarks combined the noise issue with a broader criticism of cultural change in the state.
During the meeting, Thackeray also raised other issues, including alleged availability of narcotics at paan stalls outside schools, deforestation and the acquisition of land. He said people who had lost their land were not receiving jobs, and criticised political leaders for not speaking openly about the country’s situation.
The Loksatta report did not record a response from the Maharashtra government, the chief minister’s office, municipal authorities or police officials to Thackeray’s comments. No implementation timeline or administrative action was announced at the meeting. The immediate issue raised by the speech is whether Maharashtra will adopt consistent rules for amplified sound at festivals across cities and districts.
