The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea challenging the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) recent order that limits the number of individuals in ‘dhol-tasha’ groups to 30 during the idol immersion rituals of Lord Ganesh. The hearing, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, comes amid growing concerns over the implications of such restrictions on traditional festival celebrations.
Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra acknowledged the urgency of the matter, particularly given that the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which started on September 7, is currently underway and culminates with the Ganapati visarjan rituals that are integral to the festivities. These rituals are celebrated with grandeur, particularly in Maharashtra, where ‘dhol-tasha’ groups play a vital cultural role.
The NGT’s decision aimed at controlling noise pollution has been met with resistance from various community groups who argue that the restriction disrupts the essence of the celebration, which traditionally involves large musical ensembles.
The lawyer representing the petitioners emphasized the importance of the issue to the bench, pointing out the time-sensitive nature of the festival which continues for 10-11 days. In response, Chief Justice Chandrachud directed the swift submission of relevant documents to facilitate an expedited review at 2 pm on the designated hearing day.
