Celebration of Festivals in India: Especially Ganesh Chaturthi
August and September often bring excitement in the hearts of Indians as so many festivals fall during these two months. Rakshabandhan, Eid, Independence day, Ganesh Chaturthi, Janmashtami, Pateti, Navratri, and Diwali. Almost all of these festivals fall under August and September. India is a country of diversity and from ages, festivals have played a very important role in our lives. Leaving our personal barriers and fights aside, we unite and celebrate the festivals. But, the way festivals were celebrated earlier has changed and taken altogether a different face. Earlier, there was only celebration and enjoyment involved in the festivals, but now there is DJ, Show-Off and a huge money involved!

11 days of prayers, pandal-hopping, eating delicacies and waiting hours in the queue to get Ganesha’s darshan, nothing can prepare you for the madness that is Ganesh Chaturthi. I don’t know if people have observed or not but these days it is a trend that whatever may be the function, festival or situation: people want DJ. The head banging sounds of DJ, the traffic jams, and a huge crowd on the roads. All these for what? A festival. Let’s consider Ganesh Chaturthi. You might have seen people dancing on the mixed genre songs, shouting “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and jamming traffic. Yes, the feeling is divine and devotional. Yes, it is done for the God and yes people do it with a pure heart. But, what about the consequences? In 1893, when Lokmanya Tilakji started this divine festival, his intent was to unite people of India to fight against the Britishers. Not to pollute the environment and disturb the mental peace!


Imagine an ambulance stuck in traffic trying to find its way. The sound of DJ Songs is louder than the Ambulance Sirens. What about the noise pollution we create? Some Indians claim themselves to be environment-friendly but where that friendly feeling goes at the time of festivals and elections? Last night I was heading towards a meeting and on my way, I saw three Ganesh Murtis in a line and ‘THREE different DJs’ were being played at the same time that too within a range of 100 meters. Imagine the level of cacophony!
In 2016, the Ganesh Idols in the pandals were more than 10,000 in Mumbai alone. According to the statistics, the number of Ganesh Idols brought home were more than 1,80,000 in Mumbai alone.
OK, now we are done with the welcome ceremony of Bappa and the festival begins. For ten days people worship to Lord Ganesha and it is such a divine feeling to listen to the devotional songs that are being played near the Ganesh Pandals ‘provided’ they are played at a certain volume.
I don’t a problem with people hanging out at pandals and chit chatting. I don’t have the problem with people playing devotional/Bollywood songs in the pandals. I have a problem with the excess of everything. Too much loud music, too much show-off, too much expense on a single thing. Not only Ganesh Chaturthi, I have a problem with the mosques playing loud music as well. The mental peace of a human being gets disturbed. Excess of anything should be avoided. There should be a limit of everything! There should be a limit at what hertz sound is played, there should be a particular time limit at which the Yatra is carried out. There should be certain standards and rules that should be followed by everyone in any festival irrespective of the religion. Also, there is a huge money involved in the insurance of these pandals. There are more than a 450 crores of insurance for the Ganesh Pandal in Mumbai itself.

If some of you are unaware about the above idol, it is the great LALBAUG CHA RAJA, in Mumbai. Image Source: Google
On the day of Visarjan, it is totally fine to declare a holiday. It is totally fine if people play DJ but with certain sound limit and keeping in mind the traffic. But the concern is “Water pollution.” Water pollution is a matter of concern and by offering the Ganesh statue to the water we increase its rate. Traditionally the idols were sculpted out of mud and now that tradition has become a rarity! Maximum of the statues are made from P.O.P and I don’t know why the government is not keeping a check on the sculptors who support P.O.P idols. There should be a strict law and punishment against those who don’t stand by the law. The sand made idol gets easily immersed in the water but the idols that are made from P.O.P take time to dissolve and also pollute the water.
Below are some images that are disturbing!




God made this earth for the well being of mankind. He blessed us with nature for our good only. But, in the name of Festivals, traditions, and celebrations we can’t hinder the nature’s process and if we disturb its structure, remember It will also take revenge. In the name of God, we are polluting the environment and which in the long run, is not beneficial to mankind. Imagine a situation where there is no fresh air to breathe, no clean water to drink. Does that scare you? Then its time to act! For Ganesh Chaturthi, what we can do is:
- Combine 3–4 societies that carry out Ganesh Chaturthi together.
- Fix the timings of Yatra that are carried out for the welcoming God as well as for the Visarjan.
- Ban the idols that are sculpted out of P.O.P. Promote the usage of Sand made idols.
- If possible, set an upper limit of the height of idol. It would reduce the cost.
- Set some hertz level limit above which a DJ can’t play.
- Promote the usage of sand made idols and put an emphasis on small idols to home.
- Don’t spend too much on Pandals and stuff. Utilize that money for benefiting some needy.


Last but not the least, God has blessed us with nature. Let’s not convert this blessing into a curse.
Think. Empathize. Act.
Wishing you all a Happy and Eco-Friendly Ganesh Chaturthi
P.S: This is not to hurt any individual’s sentiments. You may disagree with my views and I would welcome any suggestions you have.
Thank You.
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