Panaji: BJP MLA Krishna Salkar has urged Ganesh pandal committees to avoid vulgar songs and loud DJ music during Chaturthi celebrations, asking them to follow traditional Dindi processions and maintain permissible noise levels.Salkar made the appeal during a review meeting on Wednesday with representatives of Ganesh pandal committees, police officers and government officials. He said excessive noise from DJs was inconveniencing residents, particularly the elderly, sick, children and patients.“These days we see a trend where DJs are used with loud music for Ganpati and that sound is so loud that the general public, the elderly and the sick are really hassled. We see vulgar songs being played for Ganpati and people dancing to them,” said Salkar.He said while celebration and dancing were part of the festival, they should bring happiness rather than inconvenience to others. He urged the committees to “celebrate Chavath with devotion, discipline and mutual respect”.The appeal comes amid a strong pushback from citizens in Pune against loud music and DJs during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Activist Vidyanand Bapat has spearheaded a demand for a completely noise pollution-free festival and called for a cap on decibel levels.Salkar similarly asked pandal committees to ensure DJs and sound engineers adhere to permissible decibel levels and refrain from playing vulgar songs.“We have told them not to play vulgar songs. We have also told them to take care and ensure that traffic is not affected. I have urged the committees to adhere to traditional Dindi processions, remain disciplined, peaceful and to avoid loud DJ music, excessive noise or any activity that may disturb residents, senior citizens, children, patients and pets,” he said.Salkar also instructed authorities to keep a close watch and ensure that the sanctity, tradition and devotional spirit of Chavath are maintained.Mormugao deputy collector Prataprao Gaokar, Mamlatdar Pravinjay Pandit and Goa Police superintendent of police Gurudas Kadam attended the meeting.
