India
‘It’s the heart of Pune’: SC upholds NGT limit of 30 people for ‘dhol-tasha’ groups for Ganesh festival – Times of India
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive restricting the number of participants in ‘dhol-tasha’ groups to 30 during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
“Let them do ‘dhol-tasha’, it is the heart of Pune,” the bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud observed while passing the provisional order.
The bench, which also included Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, temporarily stayed the NGT’s restrictions on group performances, allowing larger traditional drumming ensembles to perform during the upcoming Ganpati Idol Immersion.
The measure is a response to an urgent appeal against the NGT directive, which was issued in an attempt to limit noise pollution during the festival.
The appeal was brought to the attention of the court earlier in the day through an urgent motion, with the appellant stressing the need for an early hearing in view of the approaching visa tribunal, scheduled for September 17.
The NGT’s earlier ruling, issued by its Western bench, was aimed at curbing the environmental impact of the Ganapati immersion processions. Besides restricting the number of performers, the order imposed several measures, including a ban on DJs, mandatory public display of decibel levels, warning signs about the health risks of high noise levels and restrictions on the size of processions.
Ganesh Chaturthi, which began on September 7, is a 10-11 day long festival celebrated widely in Maharashtra. Traditional ‘dhol-tasha’ groups have long been an integral part of the festive atmosphere, particularly in Pune, where the drumming performances are seen as a cultural symbol.
“Let them do ‘dhol-tasha’, it is the heart of Pune,” the bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud observed while passing the provisional order.
The bench, which also included Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, temporarily stayed the NGT’s restrictions on group performances, allowing larger traditional drumming ensembles to perform during the upcoming Ganpati Idol Immersion.
The measure is a response to an urgent appeal against the NGT directive, which was issued in an attempt to limit noise pollution during the festival.
The appeal was brought to the attention of the court earlier in the day through an urgent motion, with the appellant stressing the need for an early hearing in view of the approaching visa tribunal, scheduled for September 17.
The NGT’s earlier ruling, issued by its Western bench, was aimed at curbing the environmental impact of the Ganapati immersion processions. Besides restricting the number of performers, the order imposed several measures, including a ban on DJs, mandatory public display of decibel levels, warning signs about the health risks of high noise levels and restrictions on the size of processions.
Ganesh Chaturthi, which began on September 7, is a 10-11 day long festival celebrated widely in Maharashtra. Traditional ‘dhol-tasha’ groups have long been an integral part of the festive atmosphere, particularly in Pune, where the drumming performances are seen as a cultural symbol.
