Diwali DJ-cracker trauma returns to haunt Kolkatans on Chhath

Kolkata: Several pockets of Kolkata, especially areas like Central Avenue, Paddapukur, Sarsuna, Nonadanga and Kasba, witnessed both bursting of crackers and use of high-decibel equipment or DJ music sound systems during Chhath processions on Thursday evening. As they headed to various water bodies or walked back homes, the Chhath revellers were spotted bursting firecrackers. A larger section of devotees, though, also ensured that they stuck to the rules and stayed away from the use of illegal firecrackers. Till 7 pm on Thursday, no prosecutions for bursting crackers were carried out, stated senior cops at Lalbazar. In contrast, a total of 29 persons were arrested last year and 153 persons were prosecuted for trying to burst illegal crackers in 2021. A total of 2 kg of illegal firecrackers were seized in the past 24 hours. The seizure of illegal firecrackers was way too more in previous years. At least 10kg illegal firecrackers was seized last year, 25 kg in 2022 and 27.7 Kg in 2021 during the same period of the year. The police received maximum complaints about DJs playing loud music in the processions. One Subrata Halder and another Siddhinath Dasgupta lodged complaints on the Kolkata Police social media pages. "What about DJ Box playing with full sound?" asked Halder. The complaints came from Taltala and Taratala. Lalbazar maintained that no major complaints had reached them in the past 48 hours despite residents of Tangra, Beliaghata, Kasba, Paddapukur, Mukundapur and Bowbazar, claiming firecrackers and DJ music being were played in their areas.Police said while no major infringement was noticed at the major ghats or the lakes, the local water bodies — which had nominal cop presence — witnessed the maximum bursting of crackers along with processions crossing the main thoroughfares.Stray complaints against use of loudspeakers also surfaced from certain areas like Tangra, Taltala and Anandapur. Last year, there were around 15 complaints by the late evening on the first day of Chhath. Cops, who were on duty on ghat routes, claimed they did hear the occasional cracker bursting sound, something that they had not hear last year. "But then, even the customary dancing was missing as music — even if played — was regulated and involved band members instead of DJs," claimed an officer at Nimtolla Ghat.
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