Dharwad bans DJ music, plastic idols during Ganesh festival celebrations

The Dharwad district administration will impose fines of up to ₹1 lakh on organisers who deploy DJ sound systems during Ganesh festival celebrations, Deputy Commissioner Snehal R. announced at a preparatory meeting in Hubballi.

The deputy commissioner has also banned the manufacture, sale, storage and use of Ganesh idols made from plaster of Paris and other chemically treated materials across the district. Officials have been instructed to seize DJ equipment used in violation of prescribed noise limits.

Ban on excessive noise, promotion of folk art

Ms. Snehal said DJ sound systems had been prohibited during the Gowri-Ganesh festival because excessive noise could inconvenience senior citizens, children and pregnant women. She urged organisers to promote traditional folk performances such as Dollu Kunitha, Hejje Mela and Karadi Majalu instead.

"Celebrating festivals is a matter of cultural pride, but the celebrations should be environmentally responsible," Ms. Snehal said, urging people to choose idols made of natural clay and colours that dissolve easily in water.

Inspection teams, border check-posts

Officials were directed to conduct surprise inspections across the district and seize PoP idols wherever they were found. Sellers violating the ban should be penalised and only eco-friendly clay idols should be sold, she said.

The district administration, in coordination with the police, local bodies and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, has begun inspections to prevent the sale and use of PoP idols. Police, Environment, Revenue and local body officials were instructed to conduct regular checks.

The administration will establish check-posts at district and city borders to prevent PoP idols from being brought in from other districts. Vehicles transporting the banned idols and the idols themselves should be seized, Ms. Snehal directed.

Incentives for clay idol makers

Organisers must inform the police in advance about routes proposed for Ganesh idol installation and immersion processions, and any change in the route should also be reported immediately. The processions should not obstruct traffic or inconvenience other people.

Ms. Snehal urged residents to use traditional clay idols and consider immersing them at home in a bucket of water. The clay could subsequently be used for growing plants and saplings.

Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Rudresh Ghali said the civic body would provide an incentive of ₹25,000 to makers of clay Ganesh idols and felicitate them. Residents installing clay idols at home can submit photographs to the corporation to receive a certificate. The corporation has designated public water tanks for idol immersion.

Mr. Ghali appealed to organisers not to play film songs during installation and immersion ceremonies, and prohibited the use of laser lights. Officials from the police, Revenue, Environment and local administration departments, along with idol makers and sellers and firecracker dealers, attended the meeting.

Source: The Hindu