No DJ, plasma displays during Ganesh festival in Belagavi

Police will not allow the use of high-decibel loudspeakers or disc jockey systems during the Ganesh festival in Belagavi. Use of Plasma and Laser displays that could cause light pollution and damage to eyes will also not be allowed.

Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam has urged office bearers of Ganesh Mandals to strictly follow court judgments, all rules regarding the festival, including the routes, pollution norms, and other rules and guidelines issued by the police and district administration and to coordinate with the police during celebrations.

He also held some meetings with office-bearers of various Ganesh Mandals in the city, along with other police officers and the Mandal federation chairman Vikas Kalaghatagi.

While the police have no intention of restricting the festive spirit, they want to ensure compliance with all rules and court judgments. Proper planning and adherence to rules were necessary to ensure peaceful celebrations.

He has urged the committees to avoid last-minute changes to procession routes that are approved earlier, as such moves could create law-and-order issues and lead to unnecessary confrontation between the police and Mandal members.

The police have been preparing for the Ganesh immersion procession for the past two months now. All security arrangements at various locations have been planned based on inputs from intelligence agencies, the city corporation and district administration and other sources. The Commissioner has sought to speed up the immersion procession, which routinely takes as long as 36 hours.

Earlier, Mandals competed to be among the first to take their idols for immersion, but now, Mandals seem to compete to be the last. The prolonged duration of the procession is a matter of concern for all: the organisers, officers and the general public. He has urged Mandals to take necessary precautions and ensure that the idol arrival ceremonies are completed before 10 p.m.

He has issued clear instructions against high-decibel sound systems. In the past, there used to be just one or two speakers; now, the number has increased to the point where a literal wall of speakers is erected. This leads to noise pollution and could have a negative effect on the health of senior citizens, the sick, children and others. These systems should be used within prescribed norms. However, DJs should not be used during Ganesh idol arrival processions. Norms for immersion will be issued separately.

There will be no permission for plasma or laser displays, as they can cause light pollution and pose a serious risk to eyesight. It is important to maintain peace in Belagavi, as any incident here can affect normal life in three States. Any incident in the city could have repercussions beyond Belagavi, making it crucial for the festival and immersion processions to be conducted peacefully and in coordination with the administration, said a release.