Political cartoons and caricatures are a complete no-no this Durga Puja, by order of Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal.

'Do not have any political cartoon, cut-out or caricature in the pandals. If at all you want to show anything, create something on women's empowerment like anti-dowry and child marriage,' Agarwal told representatives of Durga Puja samitis at a meeting in the collectorate conference hall on Wednesday. 'Political cartoons can hurt sentiments of parties and leaders.'

Till about a few years ago, cartoons and caricatures of political parties and their bosses - Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Ram Vilas Paswan and Nitish Kumar in different moods - were common in Durga Puja pandals. In 2016, Agarwal had urged the organising committees to avoid such caricatures at the pandals but did not impose any blanket ban.

The Telegraph asked the district magistrate didn't stopping organisers from displaying political cartoons amount to curbing the freedom of expression. Agarwal replied: 'The district administration issues licences to Puja pandals for worship, not to display political cartoons. I do not mind if anyone organises a seminar or workshop on such issues (making political cartoons or caricatures) - they are free to do so. But in a Puja pandal, there would be only things related to worship.'

Police station house officers have been instructed to keep tabs on the pandals, and action will be taken against anyone or any pandal displaying political cartoons or speeches.

The decision to keep pandals away from politics has been taken, sources said, keeping the current climate of the state in mind. Purportedly, many RJD-supported Puja samitis where planning to have cartoons of chief minister Nitish Kumar, describing him as Paltu Ram (turncoat), the name Lalu Prasad has given him since the fall of the Grand Alliance government in Bihar.

Agarwal did not stop at cartoons - he has also ordered organisers not to play 'raunchy songs' during idol immersion. Music systems will be seized if anyone plays raunchy songs or crosses the 90-decibel mark.

What would be a raunchy or vulgar song, The Telegraph asked, as what might be raunchy to one could be soothing to another. Would Choli ke peeche kya hai from Khalnayak be considered vulgar, this correspondent asked Agarwal.

'Yes it is vulgar,' the district magistrate said. 'You cannot play such songs during idol immersion. Bhojpuri songs are especially vulgar and raunchy. On the day of Vishwakarma Puja, I heard people playing some Bhojpuri numbers with the lyrics ' jaawani'. It was shocking for me. So, I have asked officials to seize the DJs and music systems in case anyone plays vulgar and double-meaning songs.'

Noise pollution would not be tolerated at any cost so the music cannot cross 90 decibel. Pandals near hospitals should not play any loud music as it may cause the patients problem.

'Noise pollution cannot be ignored and again the music system would be seized if anyone crosses the 90-decibel mark. I will request officials to download an app on their mobile to checking sound levels,' said Agarwal.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj and Patna Municipal Corporation commissioner Abhishek Singh were also at the meeting. Maharaaj asked the SHOs to prepare a route chart for the idol immersion along with the timings, and keep close watch on rash bikers.

Bhadra Ghat, Gai Ghat and Digha Ghat have been identified for idol immersion.

The civic body commissioner said the three best pandals in the city would be awarded for cleanliness. He asked the Puja samitis to keep their surroundings neat and clean.

District magistrate Agarwal issued instructions to the organising committees to finish idol immersion by September 30 keeping in mind Muharram that falls on October 1.