(By Sapna Desai Mumbai Samachar Desk)
Mumbai: Permission to play loudspeakers till midnight during Ganeshotsav has been granted for only four days this year — covering the second day of Ganeshotsav, the fifth day, Gauri Visarjan, and Anant Chaturdashi. However, this decision by the government has sparked widespread discontent among sarvajanik Ganesh mandals.
All Four Days Are Immersion Days: Dahibavkar
Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, told Mumbai Samachar that the four days for which the Collector’s office has granted late-night loudspeaker permission during Ganeshotsav are all immersion days. As a result, sarvajanik mandals are demanding additional days with loudspeaker permission till midnight, so they can organise their own programmes as well.
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According to a High Court order, the authority to decide the days on which loudspeakers may be used late into the night rests with the Collector. Accordingly, the Mumbai Suburban District Collector’s office, exercising its powers, announced a list of 13 out of 15 permissible days in February. Under this list, four days of late-night loudspeaker permission have been granted for Ganeshotsav this year.
“Demand Since 2014, Only Given Empty Assurances”: Dahibavkar
Naresh Dahibavkar further said that since 2014, they have been demanding that the state government add one more day for playing loudspeakers during Ganeshotsav, but only the four immersion days continue to be granted. Sarvajanik Ganesh mandals are seeking permission for one additional day to hold their local programmes with loudspeakers till late at night, and, as has become customary, the government continues to offer only empty assurances.