A renewed focus on avoiding loud DJs and high-volume speakers during Ganeshotsav is driving demand for traditional instruments in Thane, with vendors reporting stronger sales of dholkis, tablas, dholaks and pakhwajs compared with last year.
The reported increase follows awareness campaigns by the administration and social organisations urging Ganeshotsav mandals and residents to limit noise pollution during processions, welcoming ceremonies and immersion events. Traditional instruments, including dhol-tasha, dholki and lezim, have long been associated with public festival programmes, but vendors say they had lost ground to amplified music systems in recent years.
Among the instruments available in Thane, dholki has reportedly received the strongest demand. Vendors are preparing between seven and eight dholkis a day to meet orders, while demand for dholki and other instruments began rising from the month of Shravan. About 60 per cent of new instruments had been sold by the time of the report, according to information cited by Loksatta – Thane.
Prices vary by instrument and material. A tabla is available for about Rs 7,500, a dholki for Rs 4,000, a dholak for Rs 3,000 and a pakhwaj for Rs 9,000. The broader range for instruments and related materials is reported to be between Rs 1,000 and Rs 16,000.
The demand is also extending to repairs. Residents are bringing instruments kept at home for several years back to vendors so they can be used during the festival. Between 100 and 150 traditional instruments have reportedly been repaired so far, according to a vendor quoted in the report. The trend suggests that some residents and festival groups are choosing to restore existing instruments rather than purchase new ones.
Vendors, however, said higher transportation costs are increasing production expenses. Raw materials used to make the instruments are brought from Delhi and Gujarat. Transport costs that were earlier about Rs 1,000 have risen to approximately Rs 2,000, which sellers have attributed to higher petrol and diesel prices.
Yash Chhatri Shah, a vendor quoted by Loksatta – Thane, said awareness campaigns against DJs and loudspeakers had contributed to the stronger demand, particularly for dholkis. He also said that 100 to 150 instruments had arrived for repair within a month.
Some Ganeshotsav mandals are linking the use of traditional instruments with broader efforts to reduce environmental and neighbourhood impacts. Ajay Warang of the Jai Bhawani Public Mandal in Wagle told the newspaper that the organisation has avoided DJs since its formation 12 years ago. The mandal uses dhol-tasha and lezim during the arrival of the idol, and taal and mridang during immersion. It also installs an eco-friendly paper idol, he said.
The reported sales trend comes as Thane’s Ganeshotsav groups prepare for festival events under continuing public attention on noise levels. The immediate next step for vendors and mandals will be meeting festival-season demand for new and repaired traditional instruments.
