Report on Loudpeaker Use by Religious Places

REPORT ON LOUDSPEAKER USE BY RELIGIOUS PLACES BY SUMAIRA ABDULALI 4 FEBRUARY 2004

Loudspeakers are being used at religious places all over Mumbai at very high volumes although the area around the religious places themselves would constitute a silence zone. Horn type loudspeakers are are plac placed ed faci facing ng outw outwar ards ds on the the mina minare rets ts at ever every y corn corner er of several of the mosques, and are used by temples and gurdwaras outside their enclosed spaces. They are used both in the daytime and and nigh nightt ttim ime e hour hours s and and nois noise e prod produc ucin ing g fire firecr crac acke kers rs are are also also sometimes used alongside.

 The following have been recorded

Sr

Date of

T!#e of

T$%e an

)o&'#e

no

recor!n

recor!n

&ocat!on

*

"

"

of

Re#ar+(

re&!"!o'( !

"#

%&ace Mas'id at

Loudspeaker

$eptembe

(angur

use begins at

r "%%&

)agar,

about #.!# +

*oregaon

#.&% every morning. zaan is called # times a day every day of the year. -ritten complaint sent to *overnment on " $eptember

"

""

Mas'id at

"%%&. -ritten

&

$eptembe

/afi

complaint

r "%%&

hmed

received from

0idwai

resident of the

/oad,

area.

"1

1.!# +

$eptembe

1."% pm

r "%%&

-adala Mas'id at  Telli *ali, ndheri

2% + !%%

-ritten

d(

complaint sent to *overnment on & 3ctober

4

"%%&. 1# + 2# d( Horn type

" 3ctober

1.!% +

Mas'ids

"%%&

1.!# pm

opposite

speakers placed

Masina

atop minarets

Hospital

facing outward on all sides. -ritten complaint sent to *overnment on & 3ctober

#

" 3ctober "%%&

5.!# pm

Mahala6m i Temple

"%%&. 1# + 2# d( 3utside the enclosed area making general announcements. Loudspeaker use continued for about ! week during this time. -ritten complaint sent to *overnment on & 3ctober



"2

/esidentia

"%%&. -ritten

3ctober

l building

complaints

"%%&

at

received from

$antacruz

Mr *ireesh 9ani.

7-8 used

 These have

5

for

been forwarded

religious

by him to the

gathering

authorities.

#

5.&% +

s Mas'id at

)ovember

1.&% pm

(andra

peaking to loudspeakers

$tation

!!% d(

"%%&

1# d(,

Horn type

are placed outside the mas'id premises, facing the road. *atherings take place regularly on the road and sometimes continue for several hours at

1

*urdwara

a time. (egins

)ovember

at Tilak

preparations for

"%%&

)agar,

festivities by

*oregaon

bursting loud



!%.&% pm

firecrackers between " am and 5 am on certain days of the year. -ritten complaint from resident of the 2

area. 1# + 2# d( (egins before 4

5

!.%# +

4 mas'ids

)ovember

!.4# pm

at (ehram

am at times,

(aug

making general

ndheri

announcements

"%%&

and continues !%

5

#.!# +

Mas'id at

through the day. This is heard

)ovember

#.&% am

"%%&

unidentifi

every day and

ed

lasts for a longer

location

period on

heard

certain days. t

from

certain times, it

residence

is preceded by a

of the

single loud

undersign

firecracker set

ed at )ew

off as a wake up

0antwadi

alarm at about #

/oad,

am.

(andra !!

!&

7-8 4 mas'ids

;all azaan #

)ovember

including

times daily

"%%&

(arkatali

sometimes

Mas'id

beginning as

near

early as &.&% am

$angam )agar, -adala !"

!4

!.4% pm

7:8 Mas'id

1% +2# d(