By Kalyani Mudaliar, Documentation Coordinator, CYDA
Festivals are the pride of our culture. They bring families together, unite communities and create memories that last a lifetime. But in recent years, the true spirit of festivals has been overshadowed by one harmful trend, the rise of DJ systems and deafening loudspeakers. What is meant to be a time of joy often turns into sleepless nights, health problems and environmental damage? As young people, we cannot remain silent spectators. It is our duty to lead the call for DJ-free celebrations.
The hidden dangers of DJ Noise
Health Hazards
Studies show that sound levels at DJ events often cross 100 decibels, far beyond the safe limit of 85 dB. Prolonged exposure to such noise can cause:
- Permanent hearing loss and tinnitus
- Stress, irritability, and poor concentration
- Increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure
Noise-induced health problems are not temporary. Once hearing is damaged, it cannot be restored. Thus, what feels like “fun” for a few hours can result in a lifetime of suffering.
Impact on Different Age Groups:
- Children: More vulnerable to hearing damage because their ears are still developing. They often show signs of irritability, disturbed sleep, and lack of concentration in studies after festival nights.
- Youth: While they may feel most excited about DJs, they are at greatest risk of long-term hearing loss due to repeated exposure. Stress, anxiety, and difficulty focusing on academics are common.
- Adults: Working-age people face increased risk of hypertension, sleep disorders, and reduced productivity after repeated exposure to festival noise.
- Elderly: Seniors, already prone to weaker hearing, often suffer severe discomfort. Loud DJs can worsen existing conditions like heart disease, insomnia, and anxiety.
No age group is safe from DJ noise pollution. It harms society across generations. DJ systems disturb not only those who attend festivals but also those who do not. Patients in hospitals, students preparing for exams, elderly citizens and infants are forced to bear the unbearable. Noise complaints peak during festival seasons, reflecting a deep social discomfort. Headaches, lack of sleep, and loss of focus after noisy festivals are common complaints among students. Instead of uniting, DJs divide communities by creating conflict.
Environmental Consequences
Festivals are also meant to respect nature. Yet DJ noise disrupts birds, animals, and even pets. Research shows that wildlife breeding and nesting patterns are disturbed by high-volume celebrations. A festival that harms the environment is not a true celebration.
Youth at the center of the crisis
Young people are the most frequent participants in these celebrations. Unfortunately, they are also the most vulnerable. According to global studies, over one billion youth between 12–34 years are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices, including loud music. A significant portion of young people are exposed to unsafe listening practices, with estimates suggesting that 23.81% of individuals aged 12-34 are exposed to unsafe listening levels through personal listening devices, and 48.20% are exposed at loud entertainment venues according to a study published in BMJ Global Health (Dillard et al., 2022) .As the largest group affected, we cannot wait for others to take action. If change must come, it has to be youth-driven.
Why youth must take Initiative
- Cultural Responsibility: Festivals are our heritage, and it is up to us to preserve their purity.
- Leadership Power: Being socially active and tech-savvy, youth can create awareness faster than any other group.
- Future Stakeholders: The damage caused today—hearing loss, stress, environmental imbalance—will directly harm our generation tomorrow.
By standing up against DJ noise, youth are not rejecting celebration; we are protecting its true essence.
Solutions: Building DJ-Free Celebrations
1. Promote Traditional Music
Instead of DJs, festivals can revive cultural practices like dhol-tasha, lezim, bhajans, and folk-dance performances. These forms are lively, meaningful, and rooted in tradition.
2. Awareness Campaigns
Youth can use social media platforms to spread awareness—sharing real facts, decibel readings about festivals/hearing loss, posting noise-level readings from festivals, or starting hashtags like #DJFreeFestivals.
3. Youth-Led Initiatives
Colleges and schools can organize seminars, debates, and awareness rallies on safe celebrations. Petitions can be submitted to local festival committees and authorities demanding strict control over noise.
4. Community Engagement
By holding community discussions, youth can encourage families and local organizers to adopt healthier and more eco-friendly alternatives. This ensures that the message of harmony spreads beyond campuses.
A Youth call for change
Festivals should be measured not by the loudness of speakers but by the depth of togetherness they create. Joy comes from dancing, praying, laughing, and sharing—not from damaging our health with blasting speakers. Festivals are meant to heal and unite, not to harm and divide. DJs and loudspeakers are robbing society of peace and creating long-term health and environmental damage. As youth, we have the energy, creativity and influence to change this reality. Imagine Ganesh Chaturthi with rhythmic dhol-tasha instead of bass-heavy DJs, or Navratri nights where traditional garba replaces booming remixes. These practices respect traditions and ensure peaceful co-existence with neighbors, patients, students and wildlife.
Let us pledge to lead campaigns, promote traditional forms of music, and raise awareness for DJ-free celebrations. By doing so, we are not reducing joy—we are ensuring that joy is shared by all, including the sick, the elderly, the students, and even the animals around us. The future of our festivals is in our hands.
Reference:
Dillard, L. K., Arunda, M. O., Lopez-Perez, L., Martinez, R. X., Jiménez, L., & Chadha, S. (2022). Prevalence and global estimates of unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Global Health,
