Appraisal and Assessment of Noise Level during the Dussehera Festival: A Case Study of Balasore, India

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1 Indexed in Scopus Compendex and Geobase Elsevier, Chemical Abstract Services-USA, Geo-Ref Information Services-USA ISSN , Volume 06, No. 02 April 2013, P.P Appraisal and Assessment of Noise Level during the Dussehera Festival: A Case Study of Balasore, India BIJAY KUMAR SWAIN 1, SHREERUP GOSWAMI 2 and MADHUMITA DAS 3 1 Department of Environmental Science, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar , Odisha, India 2 Department of Geology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack , Odisha, India 3 Department of Geology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar , Odisha, India swainbijay0@gmail.com, goswamishreerup@gmail.com, madhumitadas_geo@rediffmail.com Abstract: A number of attempts have been made to regulate noise pollution for some of the major sources of noise. One such source of noise in India is celebration of festivals and especially that of Durga Puja during Dussehera. The intensity of noise levels during Durga Puja, the most important religious festival of the state Odisha has been monitored in and around Balasore for 5 days (from Sasthi to Bijay Dasami) from 2 nd to 6 th October, 2011 at 10 numbers of puja pandals and during the immersion processions of Durga idols held on 7 th October, Noise descriptors such as L 10, L 50, L 90, Leq, NPL (Noise Pollution Level) and NC (Noise climate) were assessed to reveal the extent of noise pollution in such festivities. Permissible limit of noise levels (Leq) prescribed by WHO during such festival is 100 db and Lmax must not exceed 110 db. However, in most of the cases Lmax values exceeded the permissible limit (110 db); NPL and Leq values were also more than the permissible limit (100 db). In the other hand, all the noise monitoring sites belong to commercial areas. The assessed noise levels during such festivities are much more than 65dB i.e. prescribed for commercial areas by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). If it is possible to limit sound exposure in these festivities; this certainly would lead to less annoyance. Noise policy should be worked out for a better understanding of such local, social and cultural processes in which annoyance arises. Keywords: Festive noise, Noise pollution, Annoyance, Noise descriptor, Balasore. Introduction: A definite solution to noise pollution, a silent killer, has not yet been developed, because the health effect due to noise pollution has not paid much attention like other pollutions. Major contribution to outdoor noise often comes from road transportation and is the main source of pollution. However, noise during festivities is also an imperative source of annoyance (Singh and Joshi, 2010). It has turn into an unjustifiable interferences and obligation upon human health, ease and quality of human life (Gorai and Pal, 2006; Muzet, 2007; Dhembare and Gholap, 2011). In addition, stress of noise pollution can lead to sleepless nights, anxiety, higher blood pressure, headache, bad temper, hearing problem, loss of concentration and even increased chances of heart failure (Ouis, 2001; Babisch, 2000; 2005). The ceremonial worship of idols of Lord Ganesha and Biswakarma, Deity Saraswati, Durga, Laxmi and Kali during Ganesh Utsav, Biswakarma Puja, Basanta Panchami, Nav Ratris/ Dussehera, Laxmi Utsava festivals are major sources of noise pollution. Most of the states of India celebrate one or two such occasions. For instance, in West Bengal people mainly rejoice Durga puja, in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh they observe Ganesh Utsav in an elegant manner (Saler and Vibhute, 2011). Nevertheless, all such occasions are celebrated in Odisha with much pomp and ceremony. As a result, thousands of huge idols are worshiped and subsequently immersed in different water bodies of one of the poorest states of India i.e. Odisha and it is the highest in number in the country (Goswami and Pradhan, 2009). Earlier only certain sections of people of Odisha were rejoicing some particular festivals. Most of the schools, colleges and universities were involved in celebration of the Ganesh and Saraswati Puja. The whole Oriya communities were involved in Durga Puja throughout the state. Most of the businessmen of the state generally were observing Laxmi and Kali Puja, while Biswakarma Puja was observed by the industries (starting from small scale cottage industry to large scale industry), and also by the industrial and technical institutions. However, now-a-days each section celebrates all such festive occasions in all parts of Odisha and crores of rupees are spent for the ceremonial worship and immersion of idols, where around 75 lakhs of people are deprived of minimum food, clothing and shelter and % of people are below the poverty line. # Copyright 2013 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.

2 BIJAY KUMAR SWAIN, SHREERUP GOSWAMI and MADHUMITA DAS 376 It is evident that such festival is not complete without its noisy elements fireworks, loud speakers, musical instruments (Kisku et al., 2006). A preliminary assessment of noise levels during Durga Puja, the most important religious festival of the state Odisha has been carried out in the present study. During this festival, pandals / temporary structures are built in different localities. Idols of Durga are installed in these pandals for mass worship. Loudspeakers are used in these puja pandals, which produce a lot of annoying noise. This particular Indian festival is traditionally celebrated with song and dance in large groups, using musical instruments, drums etc. Vocal music and musical instruments during such festival causes high levels of noise (Kudesia and Tiwari, 2007). Bursting of fire crackers during ceremonial immersions produce intermittent and high frequency impulse noise (Saler and Vibhute, 2011). The studied occasion i.e. Durga Puja festival lasts for 10 days. After 10 days, Maa Durga idols are immersed in water bodies. Large numbers of people participate in the festival. In general, ambient levels of noise increase considerably. In order to access the intensity of noise levels in and around Balasore, noise monitoring has been carried out for 5 days (from Sasthi to Bijaya Dasami) during Dussehera festival from 2 nd to 6 th October, 2011 at 10 numbers of puja pandals and during immersion processions of the 7 th October, Materials and Method: The Balasore city is located at 21 06' North Latitude and 86 50' East Longitude in the state Odisha. The noise levels were measured following standard procedure using calibrated sound level (db) meter (Model LUTREN, SL-4010) from 2 nd to 6 th October, 2011 at 10 Durga Puja pandals (Nuabazar, Azimabad, Suelpur, Hemkapada, Bateswar, Fandi Bazar, Cinema Square, Mansing Bazar, Sarathi sangha, Town Hall puja pandals) of Balasore during 2 nd to 6 th October, 2011 and 10 locations (Gadagadia square, Babylon square, Town hall square, Cinema square, Thana square, Station square, Fandi square, Fakir Mohan Golei square, Nuabazar square, Near Nunia judi bridge) on the way from pandals to Budhabalanga River on the day of the immersion procession i.e. on 7 th October, 2011 during two specified time intervals (6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.) (Goswami and Swain, 2011, in press; Swain et al., in press; Goswami et al., 2011; Goswami, 2009, 2011; Mohapatra and Goswami, 2012a, b). One hundred twenty measurements were made within two hours duration (i.e. at one minute interval) during the aforesaid two specified times. The worship of deity Durga is performed several times a day. However, during this festival it is mainly in the evening hours (6 to 10 p.m.) that people in maximum numbers visit various puja pandals and immersion processions were also conducted during the same time. It was during these four hours that maximum noise was found in and around the pandals. Since it was one of the objectives of this study to ascertain the peak noise levels, the noise were monitored during such two specified times (6-8 p.m., 8-10 p.m.). Noise descriptors such as L 10, L 50, L 90, Leq, NPL (Noise Pollution Level) and NC (Noise climate) were assessed to reveal the extent of noise pollution due to this festival in this city. Noise descriptors such as L 10, L 50, and L 90 were also assessed to calculate the value of L eq using the following formula of Robinson (1971). L eq = L 50 + (L 10 -L 90 ) 2 / 56, where L 10 : The level that were exceeded during 10% of the measuring time in db(a), L 50 : The level that were exceeded during 50% of the measuring time in db(a), L 90 : The level that were exceeded during 90% of the measuring time in db(a). Noise Pollution Level (NPL) expressed in db was calculated by using the formula [NPL = L eq + a (L 10 - L 90 ), where, a = 1.0 (constant in the equation)]. Noise Climate (NC) is the range over which the sound levels are fluctuating in an interval of time and is assessed using the formula (NC = L 10 -L 90 ). Results and Discussion: Leq monitored at a distance of 50 meter from respective puja pandal ranged from 86.3 to 90.6 db and from 84.2 to 86.4 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.; while Lmax ranges from to db and from to db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively. Similarly L 10 (peak noise level) assessed at a distance of 50 meter from respective puja pandal ranged from 91.3 to 95.4 db and from 89.1 to 93.7 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.; while L 90 (background noise level) ranged from 72.5 to 77.2 db and from 71.5 to 76.2 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively (Table 1). Permissible limit of noise levels (Leq) during such festival is 100 db and Lmax must not exceed 110 db during such occasion (WHO, 1999). In all the cases Lmax values exceeded the permissible limit (110 db) and Leq values were close to the permissible limit (100 db). Leq monitored at a distance of 100 meter from respective puja pandal ranged from 82.8 to 89.6 db and from 80.6 to 89.7 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., while Lmax ranged from 98.6 to db and from 98.7 to db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively. Similarly L 10 (peak noise level) assessed at a distance of 100 meter from respective puja pandal ranged from 87.7 to 92.5 db and from 86.2 to 91.7 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., while L 90 (background noise level) ranged from 66.4 to 77.2 db and from 65.4

3 377 Appraisal and Assessment of Noise Level during the Dussehera Festival: A Case Study of Balasore, India to 71.2 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively (Table 1). However, in most of the cases, Lmax values exceeded the permissible limit (110 db) and Leq values were within the permissible limit (100 db) prescribed by WHO (1999) during such festivities. Assessed Noise pollution Level (NPL), at a distance of 50 meter and 100 meter from different puja pandals ranges from 97.7 to db and from 96.6 to db during 6-10 p.m., respectively, while calculated NC value, at a distance of 50 meter and 100 meter from different puja pandals ranged from 13.4 to 22.9 db and from 15.2 to 25.3 db during 6-10 p.m., respectively (Table 2). NPL takes into account the variations in the sound signal and hence serves as better indicator of the pollution in the environment for physiological and psychological disturbance of the human system. NPL is equivalent sound level that has probability of exceedence of 0.5%. Thus the NPL values are higher than Leq and are indicator of annoyance. Higher the NPL, higher the annoyance caused by the noise levels (Saler and Vibhute, 2011). It is pertinent to mention here that in most of the cases, NPL values exceeded the permissible limit (100 db). Noise Climate (NC) is the range over which the sound levels are fluctuating in an interval of time (NC = L 10 -L 90 ). In most of the cases the NC values were more than 15 db. The data explicitly depict that noise level during such festival was alarming. Leq monitored at 10 locations on the way from pandals to Budhabalanga River on the day of the immersion procession i.e. on 7 th October, 2011 ranged from 88.4 to 93.4 db and from 88.0 to 91.3 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.; while Lmax ranged from to db and from to db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively. Similarly L 10 (peak noise level) at 10 locations on the way from pandals to Budhabalanga River on the day of the immersion procession i.e. on 7 th October, 2011 ranged from 95.2 to db and from 94.5 to 98.8 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively; while L 90 (background noise level) ranges from 82.5 to 84.3 db and from 81.7 to 84.1 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively (Table 3). In all the cases Lmax values exceeded the permissible limit (110 db) and were more than 117 db and Leq values were close to the permissible limit (100 db). Assessed NPL, at studied locations on the way from pandals to Budhabalanga River on the day of the immersion procession (on 7 th October, 2011) ranged from to db and from to db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively, while calculated NC values ranges from 12.4 to 17 db and from 12.2 to 16.1 db during 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m., respectively (Table 4). The data depict that in all the cases, NPL values exceeded the permissible limit (100 db). Ceremonies, festivals and entertainment events typically produce loud sounds, including music and impulsive sounds. There is widespread concern about the effect of loud music and impulsive sound on young people who frequently attend concerts, discotheques, and enjoy walking around these festivals. At these events, the Leq typically exceeds 100 db. Such noise exposure could lead to significant hearing impairment after frequent attendances (WHO, 1999). People should not be exposed to sound levels greater than 100 db Leq during a four-hour period more than four times per year. To avoid acute hearing impairment the Lmax should always be below 110 db (WHO, 1999). It is observed from the results that noise levels were exceeding the permissible limit in most of the cases at Balasore at 10 studied Durga Puja pandals during 2 nd to 6 th October, 2011 and at 10 locations on the way from pandals to Budhabalanga River on the day of the immersion procession i.e. on 7 th October, However, it is imperative to note that all the investigated sites belong to commercial areas. The permissible noise level for commercial areas prescribed by CPCB is only 65 db during day time (CPCB, 2000). The above discussed data explicitly reveal that the noise produced during such festivities is much more than 65dB i.e. prescribed for commercial areas. Conclusion: In spite of legal standards in place and efforts of regulatory agencies, the noise levels could not be checked and controlled up to the desired levels (Pandya, 2001) especially during festivals. There is no sincere effort in making the festival free from noise pollution or at least less noisy for increasing mass awareness. Due to lack of awareness among the people and lack of strict implementation of laws by regulatory authorities, no considerable reductions in noise levels were observed. Management of such festivals requires careful planning of noise abatement. Local authorities and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) should currently set and monitor noise levels during such events to ensure that agreed levels are not exceeded. Annoyance is now an issue during such festivities in this area that were considered silent even a decade ago. People were more dissatisfied with their acoustic environment than ever before. If it is possible to limit sound exposure in these festivities; this certainly would lead to less annoyance. Noise policy also legitimizes complaints and directs people s attention. A sociopolitical approach to noise annoyance includes acoustical and non-acoustical factors of noise annoyance in a dynamic perspective. The question is how this issue under social, political, economic and

4 BIJAY KUMAR SWAIN, SHREERUP GOSWAMI and MADHUMITA DAS 378 cultural circumstances will be addressed by the local bodies, State Pollution Control Board and NGOs. Acknowledgements: The authors are greatly indebted to the esteemed Prof. D. Venkat Reddy, Professor of Geology and Editor- in Chief, International Journal of Earth Sciences & Engineering and revered reviewers for critically going through the manuscript and for many suggestions to improve the quality of the article. References: [1] Babisch, W Noise and health. Environ. Health Perspect. 113(1), [2] Babisch, W Traffic Noise and Cardiovascular Disease: Epidemiological Review and Synthesis. Noise & Health. 2(8), [3] C. P. C. B Ambient Air Quality in Respect of Noise. Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi: Schedule-Part II, Sec. 3. [4] Dhembare, A. J. and Gholap, A. B Assessment of noise level during pre-diwali, diwali and post diwali weeks in Sangamner city, Maharastra. Ind. Str. Res. J. 1 (4), 1-6. [5] Gorai, A. K. and Pal, A. K Noise and its impact on human being: A Review. J. Environ. Sci. Engg. 48, [6] Goswami, S Road traffic noise: A case study of Balasore town, Orissa, India. Int. J. Environ. Res. 3 (2), [7] Goswami, S Soundscape of Bhadrak Town, India: An Analysis from road traffic noise perspective. Asi. J. Wat. Environ. Poll. 8 (4), [8] Goswami, S. and Pradhan, S Immersion of images: A tragedy of Pollution. Every. Sci. 43 (6), [9] Goswami, S. and Swain, B. K Soundscape of Balasore City, India: A study on urban noise and community response. J. Acoust. Soc. Ind. 38 (2), [10] Goswami, S. and Swain, B. K Preliminary information on noise pollution in commercial banks of Balasore, India. J. Environ. Bio. 33 (5) [11] Goswami, S., Nayak, S., Pradhan, A. and Dey, S. K A study of traffic noise of two campuses of University, Balasore, India. J. Environ. Bio. 32 (1), [12] Kisku, G. C., Sharma, K., Kidwai, M. M., Barman, S. C., Khan, A. H., Singh, R., Mishra, D. and Bhargava, S. K Profile of noise pollution in Lucknow city and its impact on environment. J. Environ. Bio. 27 (2 Suppl.), [13] Kudesia, V. P. and Tiwari, T. N Noise Pollution and its control. Meerut, India: Pragati Prakashan. [14] Mohapatra, H. and Goswami, S. (2012a). Assessment and analysis of noise levels in and around Ib River coalfield, Orissa, India. J. Environ. Biol. 33 (3), [15] Mohapatra, H. and Goswami, S. 2012b. Assessment of Noise levels in various residential, commercial and industrial places in and around Belpahar and Brajrajnagar, Orissa, India. Asian J. Wat. Environ. Poll. 9 (3) [16] Muzet, A Environmental noise, sleep and health. Slp. Med. Rev. 11, [17] Ouis, D Annoyance from road traffic noise: A review. Jou. Environ. Psych. 21, [18] Pandya, G. H Urban noise-a need for acoustic planning. Environ. Monit. Asses. 67, [19] Robinson, D. W Towards a unified system of noise assessment, J. Sou. Vibra. 14 (3), [20] Saler, P. and Vibhute, S Monitoring of Noise During Ganeshotsav. Intern. J. Engg. Sci. and Tech. 3 (9), [21] Singh, D. and Joshi, B. D Study of the Noise Pollution for three consecutive years during Deepawali festival in Meerut City, Uttar Pradesh. New York Sci. J. 3(6), [22] Swain, B. K., Panda, S. and Goswami, S Dynamics of road traffic noise in Bhadrak city, India. J. Environ. Bio. 33 (6), [23] W. H. O Guideline values. In: Guidelines for Community Noise (Eds. B. Berglund, T. Lindvall and D.H. Schwela). World Health Organisation. Geneva.

5 379 Appraisal and Assessment of Noise Level during the Dussehera Festival: A Case Study of Balasore, India

6 BIJAY KUMAR SWAIN, SHREERUP GOSWAMI and MADHUMITA DAS 380 Table 2: Variations in Noise Descriptors (NPL, Nc) in and around different Puja Pandals (At different Distances) of Balasore Town during Two different Time Intervals Monitoring Puja Pandal 6 8 p.m p.m. 50 metre 100 metre 50 metre 100 metre NPL NC NPL NC NPL NC NPL NC Nuabazar Azimabad Suelpur Hemkapada Bateswar Fandi Bazar Cinema square Mansing Bazar Town Hall puja pandal Sarathi sangha Table 3: Noise Level (Db) Variations at different Squares during Procession of Idols of Balasore Town at Two different Time Intervals Table 4: Noise Descriptors (NPL, Nc) Variations at different Squares during Procession of Idols of Balasore Town at Two different Time Intervals Monitoring squares 6 8 p.m p.m. NPL NC NPL NC Gadagadia square Babylon square Town hall square Cinema square Thana square Station square Fandi square Fakir Mohan Golei square Nuabazar square Near Nunia judi bridge