Ganeshotsav Pandal Permission in Mumbai: BMC Single Window, Police NOC, Loudspeakers and the Rules

Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav is Mumbai’s biggest festival, with thousands of public mandals. Each one that puts up a pandal on a road, footpath or public land needs permission from the BMC and NOCs from the police and traffic police, now obtained online through a single-window system. This guide explains the process so your mandal can apply on time. Ganeshotsav in 2027 is expected in early September.

The permissions a public mandal needs

The BMC single-window process

1. Apply online on the BMC portal under the citizens’ “Pandal” facility (public Ganeshotsav, Navratri and other festivals). In 2026, applications were open from 14 August to 13 September.
2. Ward scrutiny: the ward office checks the location and area; for renewals of five-year permissions, it may physically verify the site.
3. Police and traffic NOCs are obtained online as part of the same process.
4. Fee: once approved, the mandal pays a fee (Rs 100 in 2026) and the ward office issues the permission.
5. Validity: permissions are valid for the festival period stated (until 26 September in 2026).

One-year or five-year permission

Mandals can take permission for one year or for five years (for example, 2026 to 2030). Mandals holding a five-year permission still apply online each year to renew it.

Rules that cause the most trouble

• No digging: BMC prohibits digging into concretised roads and footpaths to erect pandals, and fines mandals Rs 2,000 per pothole. Use pothole-free erection methods.
• Size and location: the pandal must stay within the approved area and leave space for traffic and pedestrians.
• Society land: if the pandal is in a housing society’s compound, get the society’s written consent before applying.
• Training: in 2026, BMC required two volunteers from each public mandal to attend training on crowd management, fire safety and first aid.
• Idols and immersion: follow BMC’s current guidance on idol material and immersion, including the use of artificial ponds.

Loudspeakers

Loudspeakers are not allowed between 10 pm and 6 am, but the State can relax this up to midnight on 15 days a year. For Ganeshotsav 2026, the relaxation in Mumbai was notified for four days (including the main immersion days). On all other days, the 10 pm limit applies, and noise limits apply at all times. Silence zones around hospitals and schools are off-limits. Thane, for example, also banned DJ systems in 2026.

Collecting donations

A mandal that is not a registered public trust needs permission under Section 41C of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act to collect money or offerings, and must file audited accounts afterwards. See Section 41C permission for mandals.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Ganpati in our building compound need BMC permission?

Permission from BMC is required for pandals on roads, footpaths and public land. A festival within a society’s own compound needs the society’s consent, and police permission for loudspeakers. Collecting money from the public brings in Section 41C.

What happens if a mandal sets up a pandal without permission?

BMC can remove it and take action, and future permissions may be affected.

When should we apply?

As soon as the online window opens, usually about a month before the festival.

See also: Navratri event permissions and registering a mandal as a trust or society.

Planning ahead? See the festival permissions calendar 2026–27 for dates and when to start preparing, or all festival guides.

Related service: Festival and Event Permissions in Mumbai: Legal Guides

Consultations are by appointment. To fix a time, telephone +91 99301 50560 or send a message on WhatsApp.

This guide describes the procedure as understood in October 2026, based on BMC’s 2026 process. Dates, fees and conditions are announced afresh each year. It is not legal advice.