I am confident Pune citizens will choose the traditional way of celebrating the festival, says CM Devendra Fadnavis
Pune’s Traditional Ganeshotsav Celebration Advocated by Chief Minister Fadnavis
On Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that Pune would exemplify traditional celebrations of Ganeshotsav, aiming to set a standard for the rest of Maharashtra. This initiative underscores the importance of cultural heritage in the state’s festivities.
City is home to more than 3,000 Ganesh mandals, which participate in the festival, according to estimates.
Pune will set an example for the rest of the state,” he said. NCP (SP) city chief Shrikant Patil said residents’ concerns were justified and urged Ganesh mandals to celebrate responsibly. “The festival should be celebrated without causing inconvenience to senior citizens, patients, children and animals,” he said, while calling for effective enforcement of noise regulations. “The administration must play a key role in enforcing noise pollution norms during Ganeshotsav,” Patil said, adding that despite his four-decade association with the festival, the issue of excessive noise had become a major concern only in recent years. Backing the demand, NCP (SP) Doctors’ Cell state president Sunil Jagtap said all stakeholders, including Ganesh mandal workers, must avoid the use of loud DJs in the larger public interest. Former mayor and Congress city unit head of eastern region Prashant Jagtap said Pune’s Ganesh festival held national significance and remained a source of pride for the city.
The CM’s remarks came as opposition leaders in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), including those from NCP (SP) and Congress , backed residents demanding strict enforcement of noise pollution norms during the upcoming festival. Fadnavis was speaking at the BJP state executive committee meeting at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch in Pune, where he steered clear of directly weighing in on the controversy over DJs and loudspeakers. “I know I will be asked about the issue, but instead of getting into a controversy on whether Ganeshotsav should be celebrated with DJs or not, I am confident Pune citizens will choose the traditional way of celebrating the festival. Residents have clarified that they were not opposed to the celebrations but objected to loud music and DJs that violated prescribed noise limits. He, however, maintained that DJs and high-decibel sound systems had no place in the celebrations.