MEERUT: The removal of loudspeakers from mosques in Sambhal, including the historic 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid, has led to an unexpected revival of a long-lost tradition. With electronic amplification no longer permitted, the call to prayer and sehri reminders now rely solely on the strength of human voices. This shift has resurrected an old practice—men patrolling the streets in the early hours, calling on the faithful to wake up for their pre-dawn meal.
In a bid to ensure no one misses sehri, Mohd Shoaib has stepped up to fulfill this role. Each morning at 3 AM, he navigates the narrow lanes of Sambhal, his voice echoing in the quiet night as he beats a drum and calls out: “Sehri ka time ho gaya hai… Sehri kar lijiye” (It is time for sehri… have your sehri). Speaking about his new routine, Shoaib shared, “Many people depended on the mosque’s loudspeakers to wake up for sehri. With the ban, I’m helping ensure they don’t miss this important meal.
Before modern sound systems took over, towns and villages across India relied on sehri jagane wale (sehri wake-up callers) to rouse the fasting community. Over time, this practice faded as loudspeakers became the norm. Now, however, with stringent enforcement of noise regulations, it has returned out of necessity, evoking nostalgia and sparking discussions on tradition versus technology.
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Authorities have been strict in implementing these rules. In recent months, Sambhal police have registered cases against mosque imams found using loudspeakers beyond the permissible decibel limits. However, it was the removal of the speakers from the iconic Shahi Jama Masjid that drew the most attention, stirring debates on religious expression and governmental oversight.
A video of Imam Mohd Haji Raees reciting the azan from the mosque’s rooftop—where loudspeakers once stood—quickly gained traction on social media, fueling conversations on the intersection of faith and state regulation. Responding to concerns, Sambhal SP Krishan Kumar Bishnoi clarified that while loudspeakers are restricted, individuals remain free to use their voices. “Anyone can stand on a rooftop and call out—there is no law against that,” he stated.
The situation in Sambhal highlights a broader debate on balancing religious practices with regulatory measures. While the enforcement of noise pollution laws has been firm, the re-emergence of traditional wake-up calls signals the resilience of cultural practices that transcend time and technology.
