Two recent news reports capture the contrast at the heart of a significant issue. Solapur is headed into its second year running without DJs at its Ganesh immersions, with the police commissioner crediting the decision to meetings with stakeholders and support from the mandals themselves. Meanwhile, reports on this year’s Kanwar Yatra described assaults, vandalism, intimidation and an increasingly aggressive campaign over what people may eat or sell, with Muslims and meat sellers paying much of the price.

One festival is learning restraint; the other is turning coercive. ( Read the complete article here : https://kashmirtimes.com/opinion/comment-articles/is-the-transformation-of-public-festivals-into-public-nuisance-our-destiny)