Pune District Collector Allows 7-Day Loudspeaker Relaxation for Ganeshotsav

Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi has issued an order allowing the use of loudspeakers till midnight for seven days during Ganeshotsav this year. The relaxation will come into effect on August 30 and will continue till September 4, and then again on Ganpati Visarjan day on September 6.

This time the extension is longer than usual. Loudspeakers are normally allowed for five days during the festival, however the period has been stretched to seven days in 2025. Officials said the change was made because it happens to be a weekend on the fourth and fifth days, when larger crowds are expected.

The decision was taken after discussions with Ganesh mandals and is in line with Ganeshotsav being celebrated as the state festival. State cultural affairs minister Adv. Ashish Shelar had earlier announced the extension and said that funds would be provided for grand celebrations. He also urged mandals to showcase themes such as Operation Sindoor, Swadeshi, and the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Some prominent mandals and temples in Pune will also livestream rituals for devotees around the world.

While the relaxation has been announced, there are some conditions. The Supreme Court has restricted the use of loudspeakers after 10 pm, but the Noise Pollution Rules allow state governments to give exemptions for up to 15 days a year. The collector’s order makes it clear that noise levels must remain within prescribed limits for different zones and that the exemption does not apply to silence zones like hospitals, schools, and courts. Authorities will be responsible for ensuring compliance.

Officials said that while the relaxation highlights the cultural importance of Ganeshotsav, it is equally important to maintain a balance between celebrations and noise control laws.