Kolkata, Oct 14 (IANS) Highlighting their stand against terrorism, batting for environment protection and belting out musical arrangement incorporating honk sounds of yellow cabs, over 30 community Durga puja organisers paraded their award-winning idols in a carnival here on Friday ahead of the immersion in the Hooghly river.
Organised by the West Bengal government amid tight security arrangements, as many as 39 award-winning community Durga Puja idols showcased varieties of artistic creation in the road show of tableaux called 'Pujor pore thakur dekha' (viewing idols after the Puja) at the Red Road here, the venue for the Republic Day Parade as well.
Some community pujas marked their golden jubilees this year while others are pushing for their 100th year.
Regardless of their vintage quality, several of the organisers put up marquees aligned with current affairs. Their floats in the parade also reflected those themes.
The Tala Barowari, which is in its 96th year, highlighted its stand against terrorism. Proclaiming the pen (education) is mightier than the sword, the organisers put up models of a pen's nib in front of the Durga idol atop the tableau. They envisaged a "terror free" world where education enlightens all.
Kashi Bose Lane puja committee in north Kolkata had children walk besides its tableau holding saplings and wearing helmets representing miners. The tableau stood as a caution: environment shouldn't be harmed in the wake of industrialisation. Its organisers asserted the carnival "will surpass the Rio Carnival".
Organisers of the Beliaghata 33 Pally marquee, who dabbled in nostalgia surrounding the Ambassador yellow taxis, drove home the point with a lively instrumental composition incorporating a range of honks and hoots of the quintessential Kolkata yellow cabs.
They had artistically incorporated 15 taxis, 200 silencer pipes, 300 car doors and other parts of the vehicles to signify the importance of the cabs in their sprawling marquee in north Kolkata.
The 39 pujas are winners of Bengal's 'Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman' award.
State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee presided over the event accompanied by her cabinet ministers and celebrities.
