The Mumbai Police have issued a directive to prohibit several activities ahead of the upcoming Holi festival to maintain public peace and safety.

The restrictions include spraying or throwing coloured water, dyes, or powder on pedestrians, as well as the preparation and/or throwing of balloons filled with coloured or plain water or any liquid.

The order, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Akbar Pathan, was released on Monday and outlines the actions that will be banned during the celebrations of Holi, Dhulivandan, and Rang Panchami, which will take place from 12 to 18 March.

The city police have listed four prohibitions in light of the festival. These are:

1. The public utterances of obscene words or slogans, or singing of obscene songs.
2. The use of gestures or mimetic representations and the preparation, exhibition or dissemination of pictures, symbols, placards or any other objects or things which may offend the dignity, decency or morality.
3. The practice of spraying or throwing colored water, dyes or powder on pedestrians.
4. Preparation and/or throwing of balloons filled with colored or plain water or any liquid.

Mumbai Police stated that these measures are necessary to prevent “communal tension and breaches of public peace" and have warned that anyone who disobeys or encourages disobedience of these regulations will be penalised.
“Whoever disobeys the order or abets the disobedience thereof shall be punished under Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951," the order stated.

The order further stated that the restrictions would be made public through newspapers, official gazettes, and announcements in areas across Mumbai.

“I direct that this order shall be published in local daily newspapers, in official gazettes and by affixing copies thereof at conspicuous public places and announcing the same through loudspeakers in Brihanmumbai," it stated.