India, Aug. 31 -- There is something striking about ongoing debate over noise during Ganeshotsav. A festival that was transformed into a public institution more than 130 years ago to bring people together, create social awareness and provide a platform for public discussion is today increasingly judged by how loudly it can make itself heard.

Every year, the arguments return with remarkable consistency: DJs versus dhol-tasha, tradition versus noise restrictions, religious sentiment versus the rights of residents, and whether the police should be more stringent. Yet, amid this familiar debate, there is a larger question about how a public festival has evolved and how much of its original character remains relevant today.

Pune now has enou...