Sour notesAt a youth conclave in Cuttack, singer Jyotirmayee Nayak had the audience swaying to ‘Nimbooda Nimbooda’, but the front row seemed determined to resist the rhythm. As the crowd sang and danced, BJP MLAs sat through the performance with notable restraint. The Rajasthani folk song has gained political baggage after opposition parties turned it into a protest anthem over alleged textbook errors. While the song brought cheers from the audience, legislators appeared keen to avoid wading into the controversy.When music stopsThe drums have fallen silent and the pandals are empty, but the effect isn’t quite over. In Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, sanitation workers have spent days clearing piles of plates, plastic cups and food waste left behind after Durga Puja celebrations. While revellers carried home memories and selfies, these workers returned before dawn with brooms and carts. Festivals may create joy for thousands, but someone still has to clean up after the party.Quick defenceIPS officer Arun Bothra recently learnt that social media can produce loyal supporters out of nowhere. When someone questioned his knowledge of technology, a stranger named Umesh Agarwal rushed to his defence, confidently declaring that Bothra was an engineer by education. The only catch — Bothra says he has a BA degree and doesn’t even know Umesh. Amused by the episode, the officer thanked those unexpected online defenders.Statue actDurga Puja immersion processions in Balasore served up many sights, but one reveller decided to become part of the display. Allegedly under the influence, he climbed next to a towering statue of Biju Patnaik and copied the late chief minister’s iconic outstretched-finger pose. For a few moments, he looked like a living extension of the monument. The crowd enjoyed the act, but police were less amused. Officers soon stepped in and ended the impromptu performance.(Contributed by Team TOI)
