Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on festival celebrations and noise pollution levels

Abstract

India is a country where every religion and community celebrates their culture. Festivals have an important role in Indian culture and are celebrated whole-heartedly by the citizens. Most of these celebrations culminate to causing pollution especially noise pollution due to festivities and rituals. One such festival is Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav which is magnificently celebrated in Maharashtra state of India. In the present study, noise pollution levels during Ganeshotsav at famous community pandals in Mumbai city were monitored in the year 2020. Noise level data was analyzed based on indices such as L 10, L 50, L 90, noise pollution level (LNP ) and noise climate (NC). Comparison of noise levels was carried out for the collected data during Ganesh Chaturthi in the previous years of 2018 and 2019. The city witnessed simple festival celebration in eco-friendly manner leading to significant decrease in noise levels due to CoVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic situation is an eye-opener for the city administration with demonstration in reduction of noise pollution. Many aspects of the pandemic can be carried forward in making new guidelines and policies to curtail pollution and eco-friendly celebration of festivals.

Quieted City Sounds during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Montreal

“…One known study looked at the effect of COVID-19 on festival sounds. In Mumbai, India, religious festival participants were encouraged to celebrate at home, meaning that festival areas we approximately 28 dBA quieter than the same locations during religious festivals in 2018 [22]. These festival sounds were conceived as noise pollution; however, we take a different positionality in light of the aforementioned forthcoming study showing that residents of the district do not conceive of the Montreal festival sounds as negative.…”

Coronavirus disease-2019: Challenges, opportunities, and benefits in India

“…In comparison to 2018, noise levels (Leq-[equivalent continuous sound level]) at Dadar, Ganesh Gully, and Girgaum were lowered by 28.5, 28.2, and 27.5 dBA in 2020. [ 47 ]…”

Effects of COVID-19 Infection Control Measures on the Festival and Event Sector in Poland and Norway

“…Mohanty et al [28] rightly emphasize that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot yet be thoroughly investigated due to the pandemic's short duration and the lack of an end in sight. The exact determination of losses will most likely not be possible due to the numerous connections of the event industry with other industries, e.g., tourism, transport, accommodation, and gastronomy [33]. Researchers indicate that a recovery of the industry to the pre-pandemic situation will be possible but will need external support from both central and local authorities.…”

“…To date, the unknown threats have caused great chaos, fear, and awareness among people. The triggered panic led to many countries across the world going into lockdown mode [33]. With the hope of curbing the spread of the virus, all countries implemented various infection control measures.…”