Beed Ganesh mandals threaten to skip immersion over Dolby ban

Today is Anant Chaturdashi, when Ganesh devotees traditionally take out processions with much fanfare to bid farewell to Bappa. Playing DJ and Dolby sound systems alongside dhol-tasha has become common practice during these processions. In Mumbai and Pune, DJ and Dolby systems are played freely, and taking note of this, public Ganesh mandals in Beed have also started demanding Dolby sound systems.

But this year, the Beed administration has imposed a complete ban on Dolby sound systems, and mandals have taken an aggressive stance in protest. Mandal workers have issued a clear warning that if they are not allowed to play Dolby, they will not immerse the idol of Bappa.

The Beed district administration and police system have gone into full action mode. With the aim of maintaining law and order and preventing noise pollution, the administration has imposed a complete ban on DJs and sound systems this year. The order applies not only to Ganesh immersion but also to wedding functions and other auspicious occasions. Playing a DJ or Dolby system without permission will result in direct police action. In line with this, police seized a sound system during a wedding function at a lawn on Dhanora Road after a DJ was played there. Strict action will also be taken against those who illegally modify vehicles to run generators.

Ganesh mandals in Beed have turned aggressive over their demand for Dolby sound. Mandal workers are demanding that they be given the same permission to play Dolby sound that has been granted in Mumbai, Pune, Sambhaji Nagar and Kolhapur. Around 15 to 20 mandals have demanded Dolby sound, and all these Ganesh mandals have blocked the road in protest at Beed's Hiralal Chowk.

The Beed administration and police have imposed a complete ban on playing DJs during the immersion procession and have warned that violators will face direct cases. Notices have been issued to 1,759 mandals under this order. A tight police bandobast has been arranged across the district to maintain law and order, with more than 4,000 police personnel deployed. AI drones and high-tech CCTV cameras are also being used to keep watch on the processions. Police have appealed to devotees to follow noise pollution rules and have directed that processions be taken out only with halgi, dhol-tasha, lezim and other traditional instruments.