The Momma Clan

August , September , October are the months of  festivals. 

Janmashtami, Ganesh Pooja ,Durga Pooja and Deepawali. The disturbance of loudspeakers  is a common site all over the country

The rules are there in paper that the volume should have less decimals and after 10 pm, the loudspeakers should be off. But who follows the rules.

Near the hospitals there should be no noise pollution, everyone knows but who cares.?

I have seen since my childhood in Bombay those years  during Ganesh Pooja , for eleven days the loudspeakers blared in full volume all filmy songs.  Only during the Arati time, Ganesh Vandana was played .  The loudspeakers blasted very late at night.

The whole area was noise polluted but during those years, no one objected but who cared anyways.?

The ten days of festivities and the exams conducted  during those months,the children  and the parents had a tough time. If they requested the Pandals to reduce the volume, a huge fight happened.  The sick and the elders had a tough time but who cared?

The Visarjan procession was more noisy and polluted with the fire crackers. All along the route,  some enjoyed the Bappa going to His home but many in the vicinity of the hospitals and elders suffered but who cared?

Did  God enjoyed all these noisy reverence towards Him?  He heard the silent prayers of all His devotees but the youngsters loved these loud noisy filmy songs and not the devotional song of Lord Ganesha, Ma Durga. They started the day with one or two bhajans or devotional songs, and suddenly the air turned  with the filmy songs which have no connection to the devotional atmosphere of any Pooja festival but who cared?

They loved dancing and shouting on those  songs, adding to the noise pollution.

Over the years, I watched the politicians Sponsering the decoration and loudspeakers among the Bastis, to  gather the votes. This horrible songs disturbed that area from early morning 6 till 11 pm  at times 12. On top of this, now the Pandits or Shastris recite the prayers in the Mike, so that people come to their Pandals. What a way to celebrate any festivals? God knows people utter, “ No the God must be covering His ears .” as the noise could reach Him. A sad plight  but who cared?

After a lot of protests, the Government announced, “ No loud sound should be played after 10 pm. “ They would be punished, but who cared?

The social disturbance feelings should come from inside the heart and cannot be compelled and taught.

Some feel , what is there all these noise is for some hours and days only, why then crib about it.?

Now even at the marriage or Anniversaries loud  songs are played to entertain the guests.

In South, I saw in some  community, I have seen the funeral procession with loudspeakers and a noisy atmosphere.

Many children and adults develop a hearing trouble due to these blaring noise of the loudspeakers.

One should learn to celebrate any festivals or their own functions without disturbing the general public.

Hope one day good sense prevails and everyone can enjoy any festivals or occasions peacefully and enjoy them also without cribbing about them.

Festivals are needed to teach the children to respect and pray to the Lord.

Now at the Temples also, the loudspeakers are played with bhajans.

People visit the temples to sit and pray in peace. At least spare these noise at these places..

Let us hope for the best and  celebrate our functions nicely.

-Poornima Sivaraman