Nagpur's festival crackdown, bans high-powered sound systems, laser lights

Nagpur Police have barred modified high-powered sound systems and laser lights during the festival season. The order has sharpened a wider debate over noise limits, safety and livelihoods in Maharashtra.Nagpur's ban on sound systems and laser lights will remain in force from Sep 4 till Nov 1.Nagpur Police have banned the use of high-powered and modified sound systems, as well as beam and laser lights, during the upcoming festival season in the city, citing noise pollution and safety concerns.The order will remain in force from September 4 until 11.59 pm on November 1, a police official said.The move comes amid a wider debate over noise pollution during festivals in Maharashtra, with the BJP in Nagpur urging Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil to reconsider the decision. In Pune, the issue has also sparked controversy after an activist opposing DJ systems and loudspeakers was assaulted on Thursday. In a press note, Nangre Patil said disputes and tensions frequently arise during festivals and processions, including Gokulashtami, Dahihandi, Pola, Tanhapola, Tajuddin Baba's Chhabbisi, Ganeshotsav arrival and immersion processions, Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Day and Dussehra processions, over the use of high-decibel sound systems.The police order said the use of such equipment violates noise limits prescribed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. It also cited safety concerns over beam and laser lights, saying they can injure people's eyes, affect public health and cause drivers to lose control of vehicles, potentially leading to accidents.Accordingly, programme organisers, office-bearers, sound-system operators, owners of sound-system vehicles and operators of beam and laser light systems have been directed not to use "Dolby and plasma sound systems, pressure music systems, modified sound-system vehicles, and beam and laser lights" from September 4 to November 1.Nagpur city BJP chief Dayashankar Tiwari, however, urged the police to reconsider the blanket ban. He said it would be more appropriate to enforce the prescribed decibel limits strictly rather than prohibit entire sound systems or setups.Tiwari said many families depend on the sound-system business for their livelihood and a blanket ban could affect their jobs. He also called for the rules to be applied uniformly to all public events across the city rather than only to festivals such as Gokulashtami, Dahi Handi, Ganeshotsav, Dhammachakra Pravartan Din or Durga Devi festivals."Therefore, the police administration should refrain from banning such equipment. Instead, it should define clear decibel limits and enforce them strictly," he said.The Nagpur order comes as noise pollution becomes a contentious issue ahead of the 10-day Ganesh festival in Pune, which begins on September 14. Local activist Vidyanand Bapat had opposed DJ systems and loudspeakers at a meeting organised by the civic body. On Thursday morning, he was allegedly assaulted by a man while speaking to electronic media.The incident triggered outrage, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying the attacker had been arrested and that no one should be assaulted for expressing an opinion.The developments have put the spotlight on the growing debate over festival noise in Maharashtra, with Nagpur Police opting for a ban on high-powered sound systems while the BJP has called for strict enforcement of existing decibel limits instead.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 4, 2026 11:10 IST