00:01These visuals are from Murshidabad, where Durga Puja celebrations are in full swing.
00:06At one pandal, the demon Mahishasur has been given a striking new look, modelled on US President Donald Trump.
00:12Big hair, dramatic expression, the works.
00:15The organizers say it's a playful critique of his trade policies and how they've affected India.
00:20Kolkata has a long history of using its Durga Puja pandals to comment on social and political issues.
00:25In 2022, at the Hindu Mahasabha Durga Puja, Mahishasur was depicted with features resembling Mahatma Gandhi's,
00:32sparking discussion about historical interpretations and the symbolism of the demon in Durga Puja iconography.
00:38In 2020, a Kolkata pandal depicted Goddess Durga as a migrant mother, carrying her children,
00:44a tribute to the resilience of migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown.
00:48This year, the Shantush Mitra square pandal honoured the Indian armed forces through its Operation Sindhur theme,
00:54while another, led by the transgender community, highlighted gender equality through the Ardha Nareshwari motif,
00:59symbolizing the union of masculine and feminine energies.
01:03Pandals have also addressed tragedy and activism.
01:06Following the death of a doctor at RG Core Medical College in 2024,
01:10several pandals demanded justice and drew attention to women's safety.
01:14For Kolkata, combining art with social commentary is nothing new.
01:18It is a city that never hesitates to speak out.
01:21LOM
01:24MULSE
01:33LOM
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