Procession on the roads

Now it is the festival season in Kerala, with most of the temples, churches etc celebrating the annual festivals. As part of the festivals, it is customary to take out processions , which used to be within the temple premises, of the deities etc. Now it is observed that these processions have come out of the precincts of temples and churches and are taken through the main thoroughfares, thereby blocking the traffic in the main roads. The other day I witnessed one such procession on National Highway 47 between Aroor and Eramalloor when the entire traffic on the highway was diverted to the other side of the highway thereby seriously affecting the free  movement of the vehicles . This caused a delay of about 10 minutes for any vehicle to cross the particular point. And it was also observed that an ambulance with patient was also caught in the melee and the police personnel on duty could somehow manage to clear the way for it. Similar incidents will be happening at many other places too, I am sure. It is high time everybody took a call on the matter and limit such processions, be it religious, political or otherwise away from such busy thoroughfares and free the other people from such inconveniences. Here in the name of religion a handful of people were holding the travelling public to ransom, to say the least. On the four lane highway two lanes were completely occupied by the group comprising caparisoned elephants, percussionists, other performing artists etc. 

I do not understand why the police personnel should allow such processions to be taken out ( presumably to avoid any conflicts in the name of religion) Is this the way a secular country should be run, I wonder!

Another hazard during the festival days is the noise pollution caused by the festival places by blaring out music in the early morning and nights in high volume thereby disturbing the peaceful life of the people living nearby. Is it not the duty of the police to ensure that the noise level does not cross the permissible decibel level even when a mike permission is given to the organisers? Such noise pollution also takes place whenever some programme is organised in public places with permission from police. I understand that there is a supreme court ruling prohibiting the use of loud speakers after 10 P M or before 5 PM. I hope the local police officials who accord permission for use of the speakers will ensure that this ruling is strictly enforced in all cases.