Cartoons on social, political issues at Durga Puja Pandals

Patna, Oct 9 (UNI) Besides offering prayers to Goddess Durga at the Puja pandals, people can also update themselves on the latest in politics and entertainment with eye catching cartoons of top leaders--Lalu Prasad, Bal Thackeray and mega cinestar Amitabh Bachchan to name a few.

Bihar bashing by the 'vitriolic' Thackerays is depicted through caricature.

One of the Pandals has Raj Thackeray warning the Hindi speaking people, while Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan sings the popular song, "Yeh Hai Bombai Nagaria Tu Dekh Babua...." In the backdrop, Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar is shown holding the Constitution and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a pensive mood.

Another cartoon shows RJD supremo Lalu Prasad exhorting his party MP Ramkripal Yadav and MLA Shyam Rajak to head for Mumbai to celebrate the Chhath festival.

There are more political and social themes in well illuminated pandals which dot every nook and cranny of the city. Organisers say these are proving to be hit among the puja revellers.

Terror, ravages wreaked by Kosi,the Olympic exploits of Abhinav Bindra and other social and political events have also found a place in Puja pandals erected especially in Central Patna like Langer Toli, Makhania Kuan, Kadam Kuan and Arya Kumar Road.

Noted theatre personality Ajit Ganguli said the variation was a way of attracting puja revellers. Durga Puja was more just a religious occasion, having now taken the form of a larger social festival, he added.

Another cultural activist Parvez termed the display of cartoons during the Durga Puja as medium of cultural expression. ''What we see in thematic cartoons during the Durga Puja is based on the public perception about the state of affairs in the country on issues ranging from global warming to terrorism'', he added.

UNI KKS ANJ NK HS1251