India, Aug. 31 -- State higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil on Sunday appealed to Ganesh mandals to celebrate Ganeshotsav without DJs and laser beams, saying festivities should not compromise citizens' health or violate the law.

Patil said the festival was not merely religious but also a social and cultural celebration, and urged mandals to preserve its sanctity without inconveniencing citizens.

He said some undesirable practices had been replaced by healthier traditions through the efforts of public Ganesh mandals, citing dhol-tasha troupes and collective recitation of Atharvashirsha as examples.

Invoking Lokmanya Tilak's legacy of using the public Ganesh festival for social awareness, public welfare and national...