Truck-mounted boomboxes, DJs are here, spark concern on noise

Time of India

13-07-2025

Ghaziabad
: Trucks and vans loaded with boomboxes that accompanied groups of kanwar pilgrims as the yatra began on Friday triggered early concerns about noise.
Previous years have seen unchecked use of loudspeakers during the yatra, with boomboxes shattering decibel limits and playing day and night on roads as groups pass through NCR for the annual pilgrimage.
On Friday, from Modinagar to Shalimar Garden and Ambedkar Road to Meerut Road, groups of kanwar pilgrims were seen moving with truck-mounted DJs playing remixed bhajans and popular film tracks.
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"It's not about devotion anymore for some groups—it feels more like a roadshow," said Vikas Tyagi, a shopkeeper on Ambedkar Road. "The noise, the dancing in the middle of the road and the traffic congestion cause inconvenience for everyone."
Allahabad high court, which in 2019 put a blanket ban on disc jockeys (DJs) in UP, had said, "Even if they are operated at the minimum level of the sound, it is beyond permissible limits under the Schedule of the Rules, 2000. A DJ is made up of several amplifiers, and the joint sound emitted by them is more than a thousand dB (A)." The Supreme Court later stayed the order.
On Friday, police and the administration told TOI loud DJ music will not be allowed, but it remains to be seen how this is enforced.
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"All teams have been directed to ensure that noise does not exceed the permissible level," DM Deepak Meena said.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) caps the noise level at 90 decibels. In silent zones, which include schools and hospitals, the limit is 50 decibels. But kanwar groups, trying to outdo each other, blast DJ music at volumes often exceeding 100 decibels.
Ghaziabad pollution control board officials said DJs are usually used by kanwar groups on their journey back to their villages from Haridwar.
"We are monitoring the situation and will issue an advisory to DJ operators and kanwar groups on the noise limits. This (the yatra) is a spiritual journey and should not disturb the larger public," UPPCB regional officer (Ghaziabad) Ankit Singh told TOI.
DJ operators, meanwhile, claimed many of them join the yatra as devotees and work on a "no-profit" basis. Some admitted that "DJ competitions" and "volume rivalry" are common.
Ritesh Ahuja, who runs Ahuja Light & Sound, a DJ service provider based out of Ghaziabad, said, "If the police ask us to lower the volume, we do. But if another group keeps playing loud music, we turn it up again. Our speakers can go up to 200 decibels."
Residents say unchecked use of DJs was becoming more common each year. "What used to be a peaceful pilgrimage has turned into a noisy, chaotic affair in many areas," said Nishi Bansal, a resident of Shalimar Garden.
"Faith is important, but it should not come at the cost of public discipline and peace."
Vivek Tyagi from the Ghaziabad Parents' Association expressed concern over the impact of loud DJ music on children's health and routines. "Many children have online classes, tuitions, or early school hours. How are they supposed to study or sleep with DJs blaring outside till late in the night?" he said. "We respect religious sentiments, but this is affecting our kids' well-being and mental peace.
Authorities must step in before it becomes unbearable.
"
Additional commissioner of police (crime) Alok Priyadarshi told TOI that they met DJ operators earlier this week to inform them about the norms. "During the meeting, DJ operators were informed about the recommended decibel range of 75-80dB. The height of DJ systems has been capped at 10 feet. Directives have been issued to all personnel to keep a check on DJs. Legal action will be taken against those found flouting the norms," he said.
Beyond the loudspeakers lies a well-organised setup that makes the DJ culture hard to regulate.
Vidyasagar Pandey, who runs Jyoti Light and Sound in Patel Nagar, said DJ systems are mostly booked 10-15 days in advance. "There are small boomboxes for walking groups, and then mobile DJ units for trucks or trolleys," he said. "If the sound system is large, a diesel generator is also required. If there's no space on the vehicle, the genset is pulled separately.
The diesel cost is usually paid by the kanwar group, about Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per day.
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The rental cost, Pandey added, ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 700 per day for small speakers to Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per day for larger mobile DJ setups. "A team of 4-5 people, including two technical staff, travel with a group. If it rains, we carry repair kits and even spare speakers," he said.