Ban on sound systems refuses to silence Mumbai Ganesh immersions

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai.  September 23

A ban on the use of loud systems and Disc Jockeys (DJs) during the immersion of idols of Lord Ganesh at the end of the ten-day festival on Sunday has refused to dampen enthusiasm among worshippers.

As some of the biggest idols of Lord Ganesh began vending their way to beaches and other water bodies, the blaring music from truck-mounted sound blasters have given way to traditional brass bands that kept up the clamour. "We enlisted the services of the dhol tasha (or the traditional music makers), which is costlier," an organiser of a Ganesh pandal from Borivli in suburban Mumbai said. Giant-sized brass and steel plates on which huge hammers are swung in synchronisation are keeping up the tempo at mandals that have begun to bring the idols for immersion since morning.

On Friday, the Bombay High Court had refused to grant any relief to the Ganesh organisers who prayed for the lifting of the ban on sound sytems and DJs.

Organisers of Ganesh festival soon cancelled booking for DJs and hired the services of the `dhol tasha' troupes, which quickly raised their prices. Some of the bigger 'dhol tasha' troupes are charging Rs 30,000 for a four-hour performance. On the other hand, a DJ and a music system came for just Rs 5,000, according to Ganesh festival organisers.

According to reports from the police and fire brigade, one of the oldest community Ganpatis called the Ganesh Galli Cha Raja from Lower Parel in Central Mumbai was the first to set out for immersion this morning. The idol is due for immersion in the afternoon.

Officials say, more popular idols like the Lalbaugcha Raja that attracts scores of politicians and celebrities will be taken out in a procession later in the day and the immersion will happen in the evening.

According to Naresh Dahibhavkar, the President of BrihanMumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), nearly 300 huge idols were installed in public places this year. Like in the past years, the authorities had prescribed a height limit of 18-feet for the idols so that trucks carrying them could pass under bridges on their way to the immersion.

Security has been tightened for the immersions and 40,000 police personnel were on the road as part of the bandobust to ensure smooth and safe immersion of idols. The authorities deployed helicopters and drones as part of the security measures during the immersions.

Mumbai's entire beachfront has been floodlit as part of the safety teasures, police and fire officials said.