Following the Bombay High Court’s orders to curb noise pollution, police in Mumbai removed a total of 1,608 loudspeakers from various religious places. Out of these, 1,149 were taken from mosques, while others were removed from temples, churches, gurudwaras, and other establishments. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently announced that the city is now officially “loudspeaker-free.”
Legal Protests and the Search for Alternatives
Though several petitions have been filed challenging the removal as a violation of religious freedom, mosques across Mumbai are adopting innovative solutions to ensure the call to prayer, or azaan, continues to reach the faithful.
In-Home Speakers Linked to Mosques
In Mankhurd’s Maharashtra Nagar, one housing society installed internal speaker systems in flats, all directly connected to the local mosque. This allows the residents to hear the azaan without any external noise. The system was pre-installed months before the loudspeaker ban, and over 50 homes are now using this setup.
Mobile App Brings Azaan Directly to Phones
A Tamil Nadu-based mobile app named OnlineAzan has emerged as another popular alternative. Originally developed in Tirunelveli to help people far from mosques hear the azaan, it’s now being used by over two dozen mosques in Mumbai, including the prominent Mahim Juma Masjid and Sunni Badi Masjid in Madanpura.
Real-Time Azaan Through the App
The app allows users to receive the azaan in real-time from their own mosque once the muezzin begins reciting. Developed by 70-year-old lawyer Allapitchai M, the app was built purely for charitable purposes and is free to use. The developer later agreed to share the app with Mumbai mosques after learning of the local situation.
Widespread Adoption and Positive Feedback
The Noor Masjid in Cheeta Camp was among the first in Mumbai to adopt the app. Its success encouraged neighboring mosques to follow suit. Community members and mosque trustees report high satisfaction and continued adoption, with some urging others to use the app regardless of ongoing court proceedings.
The Tradition Continues in a New Format
While loudspeakers have been silenced, the spirit of azaan continues through innovative use of technology. Whether through mobile apps or home speaker systems, Mumbai’s Muslim community is finding new ways to preserve religious practices within the boundaries of the law.
