Mumbai’s Ganesh visarjan process is facing last-minute uncertainty after the Bombay High Court ordered restrictions on firecrackers, DJ systems, laser lights and beams during public festivals and processions, while clear operational instructions from the Maharashtra government were not available to festival committees and police until late Thursday, according to a report by Loksatta – Mumbai.
The restrictions are intended to control noise and air pollution during Ganeshotsav and other religious festivals. The reported court directions apply to public places and roads, and require compliance with prescribed sound limits and the use of sound-level measuring equipment. Festival committees found violating the conditions may be required to deposit a security amount of at least ₹1 lakh, the report said.
The uncertainty has emerged ahead of Anant Chaturdashi, when Mumbai’s major Ganesh visarjan processions are scheduled to begin from the morning of Friday, September 25. Processions from areas including Girgaum, Lalbaug and Parel draw large crowds from Mumbai, other parts of Maharashtra and neighbouring states. The movement of devotees and idols also places pressure on roads and traffic systems across central and south Mumbai.
In a typical procession, committees may use musical groups, dhol-tasha formations, lezim-style performances and loudspeakers. Local groups and public figures also set up welcome stalls along procession routes, where loudspeakers are often used. The reported restrictions have raised questions about whether high-volume instruments can be included, where the ₹1 lakh security amount must be deposited, how sound limits will be measured and which authority will initiate action.
The report said the state government had not issued a public clarification by Thursday evening, even though such instructions were expected after the court order. A letter was sent to the police later in the evening, but police officials had not made the enforcement position clear by late night, according to the report. The absence of a common operating framework left both government agencies and Ganesh committees uncertain about how the order would be applied on the ground.
Several committees were reported to be studying copies of the High Court order to avoid violations. Many decided to follow the directions by excluding firecrackers and instruments considered excessively loud from their visarjan processions. Their concern is not limited to the procession itself: organisers and volunteers also fear legal action against committees or individuals, with possible consequences for employment and future court proceedings.
The issue places Mumbai’s festival management system at the intersection of public celebration, pollution control, traffic regulation and police enforcement. Large visarjan events require coordination among municipal authorities, police, traffic officials, organisers and residents, particularly in neighbourhoods where narrow roads and heavy pedestrian movement can quickly disrupt normal mobility.
The reported directions have also created an administrative responsibility for the state government and police: to communicate uniform instructions before processions begin. Advocate Naresh Dahibhavkar said the state should issue guidance to the relevant agencies and Ganesh committees, while public festival organisations should follow the High Court’s directions. The immediate next step is the enforcement of the restrictions during Friday’s visarjan processions.
