Pollution

Turn Down the Noise, Not the Celebration Public events are an essential part of social and cultural life. Festivals, religious celebrations, concerts, weddings, fairs, sporting events, political gatherings and community programmes bring people together and give cities their character. In India, where every season seems to bring a new festival or celebration, public events are deeply connected with tradition, identity and community. Music, drums, devotional songs, processions, fireworks and loudspeakers are often considered an important part of the festive atmosphere. Celebration is meant to create happiness, but excessive noise can create stress, disturbance and even health problems for people who are not participating in the event. For instance, celebrations like Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri in India are examples where high-volume speakers are often used without thinking about the environment, and people in the surrounding areas might be affected by them. The World Health Organ...