Pune | September 8, 2026
Restrictions on DJs, plasma displays, laser lights and pressure sound systems during Pune’s Ganeshotsav have received public support from Dr Rohit Tilak, a descendant of Lokmanya Tilak, who called for the festival to retain its religious and social character without causing disruption to residents.
Speaking at a press conference, Tilak said loud DJ systems and other elements that inconvenience citizens or affect traffic should not become part of the festival. He said the festival should grow, but its sanctity must also be preserved.
“Lokmanya Tilak began the Ganesh festival with the objective of bringing society together through religion. The festival must become larger, but its sanctity must also be protected,” Tilak said, according to a report by Loksatta. He added that he opposed DJs operating at excessively high volume during Ganeshotsav.
The festival is scheduled to begin in the coming days, and discussions have been taking place across administrative and community levels over the use of high-volume sound systems and visual equipment. The report said the administration has decided to impose restrictions on DJs, plasma displays and laser lights during the celebrations.
Tilak also referred to restrictions maintained by the police administration on loud DJs, plasma displays and pressure sound systems. He said sound limits and rules governing drum-and-tasha performances must be followed, citing judicial directions on noise levels and festival activities. He called for strict implementation of those rules.
“The current form of Ganeshotsav is not what Lokmanya Tilak intended,” Tilak said. He argued that the festival should not be discontinued, but that limits were necessary to prevent public inconvenience. According to him, religious festivals can provide people with emotional support and a sense of social connection, while remaining subject to rules governing their public impact.
Tilak said traditional drum-and-tasha groups could provide an alternative to DJs. He noted that several groups had introduced greater discipline, new rhythms and choreography into their performances in recent years, while many were following prescribed rules.
The report did not specify the detailed enforcement mechanism, permitted sound levels or penalties under the restrictions. It said the police administration had reiterated the need to comply with the applicable rules during the festival.
