Nagpur: With politicians, Ganesh mandals and police still locked in a noisy debate over the use of DJs during festivities, citizens appeared to have found their own consensus. Braving steady rain, residents took to the streets of Dharampeth on Sunday morning for a silent march opposing the use of DJs during religious festivities.Organised by Trimurti Nagar Residents Action Wing (TRAW) and supported by several organisations, including Civic Action Guild Foundation (CAGF), the march saw participation from school and college students, senior citizens and residents. The protesters maintained that their opposition was not to religious celebrations or processions, but to excessive noise levels. They said festivals could be celebrated with the same enthusiasm without subjecting residents to deafening sound.Former MLC and mayor Sandeep Joshi, among the first political leaders to raise the issue of DJ noise in Nagpur, said Sunday’s gathering should not be viewed merely as a protest, but as a public movement. “Citizen groups like TRAW and CAGF, and even the Indian Medical Association, have come out against the use of DJs and laser beams,” he said. He said excessive noise was particularly harmful to children and senior citizens and could affect their health and hearing. “Festivals must be celebrated, and grand processions must be taken out. But this happened even before the use of DJs, and the enjoyment was no less back then,” Joshi said.Joshi stressed that the movement was not against any religion or festival. “We do not oppose any religion or festival. We do not want to disturb anyone’s work. Sound is not our issue; the volume is,” he said.Veteran advocate Tushar Mandlekar, who had earlier approached Bombay high court over noise pollution on behalf of TRAW, said several orders and directions were already in place to regulate noise pollution, but the problem was their implementation. “The Supreme Court has passed an order, the Bombay high court has passed an order, and even Nagpur police commissioner has issued an order. What we want is that these should not remain merely on paper but should actually be implemented on the ground,” he said.He added that police must take action against violators and seize sound equipment wherever necessary. “Cops should seize the equipment and enforce the rules laid down by the constitutional bodies,” Mandlekar said.Father Joseph Vincent Bower, who also participated in the march, said Christian community supports the campaign. “Even though today is Sunday, I told all churches to postpone their services so that we could be here. In the public interest, DJs should be stopped. Maintain the prescribed decibel levels and enjoy the festivities,” he said.
