India, Aug. 31 -- Hundreds of Pune residents staged a protest on Sunday, Aug 30 demanding a ban on loud music and DJ systems during the upcoming Ganesh festival, claiming the unbearable noise makes them fall ill and forces some to leave the city for a few days. Separately, some Ganesh Mandal representatives alleged selective targeting over loud music.

The festival begins on September 14.

Hundreds gathered near Goodluck Cafe Chowk, a city landmark, and raised slogans against the high-decibel sound systems used by Ganesh Mandals. "These high-decibel music systems being used for the past few years are making us ill. We leave the city for two to three days during the Ganesh immersion processions. We want a complete ban on the use of DJ soun...