The Supreme Court has stayed the NGT’s order to limit dhol-tasha group participants to 30 for Ganesh idol immersions. The court sent notices to the Maharashtra government, Pune Collector, Pune Police Commissioner, and Pune Municipal Corporation, asking for their responses.
The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, said the festival holds deep meaning for the people of Pune. They should celebrate the event as they wish.
Cultural Significance of Dhol-Tasha
An NGO, Yuva Vadya Pathak, challenged the NGT’s decision. Advocate Amit Pai, representing the NGO, stressed that dhol-tasha has been part of Pune’s Ganesh celebrations for over a century. He added that Bal Gangadhar Tilak introduced the tradition.
Pai argued that limiting participants would harm this important cultural practice.
Concerns About Noise Pollution
The NGT made its decision after Dr. Kalyani Mandke raised concerns about noise pollution during the festival. The Pune Tribunal then ordered the limit on participants.
The Supreme Court, however, questioned how the NGT could impose such restrictions. For now, the limit has been stayed.
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