Kalyan | September 8, 2026 — Social organisations and citizens in Kalyan have launched a campaign seeking a DJ-free and noise-pollution-free Ganeshotsav in the city and surrounding areas, with memoranda submitted to local police and government authorities.
The campaign has been initiated by Sahyog Social Organisation, whose president Vijay Bhosale, social worker Baba Ramteke and other citizens have urged authorities to ensure that traditional musical instruments are used during festival processions instead of high-volume DJ systems and other loud instruments.
Meetings on the issue were held at the public library auditorium under the organisation’s initiative. According to the campaigners, representations have been submitted to the police and relevant government departments, requesting that the administration implement the demands made in those memoranda.
The campaigners said loud music and amplified sound during festival processions can particularly affect newborn children, patients, people with mental-health conditions, senior citizens, heart patients, pregnant women, students and people receiving medical treatment. They also alleged that processions sometimes continue late into the night without adequate attention to permitted timings.
Bhosale said traditional processions previously featured dhol, tasha, lezim, halgi and zanj groups, but that such performances have become less common. He said DJ systems, extremely loud instruments and laser lights are now increasingly used in processions. The campaign has called for a return to traditional instruments and for organisers to observe greater civic responsibility during the festival.
The issue has also been raised in Dombivli. Retired assistant commissioner of police Indrajit Karle said festivals should be celebrated traditionally while preserving their religious character. He questioned whether the use of very loud instruments was causing people to lose sight of the original joy and sanctity associated with festivals.
The campaigners linked the demand to wider concerns about the quality of the urban environment in Kalyan. Ramteke said residents had already faced the effects of odour and waste from the Aadharwadi dumping ground for 15 to 20 years, and argued that additional noise during the festival season adds to the burden on people living in the area. These claims were made in the representations and statements reported by Loksatta.
The campaigners also questioned the inconsistency between public appeals to avoid noise pollution and the alleged permission given to use loud instruments during celebrations. They have asked police and other government agencies to examine the issue and implement applicable restrictions. No specific enforcement order or decision by the authorities was reported in the source material.
