Kolkata recorded widespread noise-norm violations during Chhath celebrations, with loud firecrackers and DJ music reported across neighbourhoods, 39 people arrested and around 4.5kg of firecrackers seized by Sunday evening. The disturbances affected riverfront routes, residential areas, pedestrians and commuters as processions moved towards the Hooghly ghats.
Police said six of those arrested were detained for bursting crackers, while 33 were held for disorderly conduct. The violations were reported in Kasba, Behala, Jadavpur, Taltala, Girish Park, Burrabazar, Posta, Narkeldanga, Phoolbagan, Sarsuna, Bansdroni, Bhowanipore, Anandapur, Tiljala and Ultadanga, among other areas.
Noise and firecracker use were also reported around Alipore, Chetla, Kidderpore, Hastings, SN Banerjee Road, Collin Street, BBD Bag, CIT Road near Poddar Court and Eden Hospital Road. Along stretches reserved for Chhath vehicles in central Kolkata, revellers were seen bursting chocolate bombs as processions travelled to and from the ghats.
Residents and road users described difficulties caused by the celebrations. Poushali Sengupta, a Kasba resident, said repeated cracker explosions frightened her pet dog and caused her father, who had recently suffered a cerebral attack, to fall ill. Souvick Dutta, who was driving on SN Banerjee Road, said revellers threw chocolate bombs at his car’s tyres while he was travelling towards the Wellington crossing.
The scale of the violations raised concerns because the celebrations were scheduled to continue at the ghats on Monday morning. Residents feared further noise and firecracker use despite restrictions. The disruptions also followed noisy Diwali celebrations in Kolkata a week earlier, when firecrackers were reportedly burst over four consecutive nights. Unlike Diwali, DJ music was described as an integral part of the Chhath celebrations.
A senior police officer said the focus had been on persuasion rather than penal action in several locations. Lalbazar reported no significant seizure of firecrackers or DJ sets, or arrests linked to those violations, until 8pm, and the officer said no written complaints had been received by then.
Around 4,000 police personnel were deployed for Chhath-related security and traffic management. This included 300 personnel outside Rabindra Sarobar and 200 outside Subhas Sarobar. Both lakes were closed for the rituals and were scheduled to reopen at 2pm on Monday.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has permitted only green crackers during a restricted window from 6am to 8am. The reported use of loud crackers and amplified music outside those conditions has put attention on enforcement during the remaining Chhath observances. The celebrations at Kolkata’s ghats were scheduled to continue on Monday morning.
