Panvel Ganeshotsav rules issued by the Navi Mumbai Police will prohibit the use of DJs at public Ganeshotsav celebrations and processions in the area, while laser lights have also been discouraged because of their potential impact on aircraft operations near Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The instructions were issued on Friday morning by Rashmi Nandedkar, deputy commissioner of police for Zone 3, to police station in-charges across the jurisdiction. Nandedkar said organisers and individuals should celebrate the festival with traditional musical instruments and avoid DJ systems during idol arrival and immersion processions.
According to the police, the move is intended to prevent the effects of high-volume sound on senior citizens, children and patients. The department said loud DJ systems are commonly used during Ganesh idol arrival and immersion processions in Panvel, prompting it to take precautionary measures ahead of the festival.
The police issue licences for the use of loudspeakers, but Nandedkar instructed local police stations not to grant permission for DJs. Organisers, individuals or businesses that use DJs despite the instructions will face legal action, she said.
Panvel sees the installation of around 32,000 Ganesh idols during the festival. Of these, 176 public Ganeshotsav mandals operate within the Panvel Municipal Corporation area. The instructions therefore apply to a large number of public celebrations and processions across the region.
The police have also called for caution over laser lights because Panvel is adjacent to Navi Mumbai International Airport. The department said aircraft operate in the area around the clock and that the airport currently handles more than 150 flight movements a day.
The warning follows a complaint made in February by two pilots who reported being affected by laser lights before landing on the airport runway. Police said laser beams can interfere with aircraft operations, and that a proposal to impose a ban on laser lights is currently being processed by the state government.
Nandedkar said celebrations should continue, but should not cause inconvenience or create risks for others. She added that all police stations under Zone 3 had been instructed on Friday to ensure compliance with the directions. The state government’s decision on the proposed laser-light ban remains pending.
