Mumbai, Aug 19 - As you join the Ganeshotsav celebrations, Maharashtra's biggest public festival which starts Aug 23, you will notice two themes recurring across the marquees in the city - terrorism and swine flu - depicted through tableaux, paintings and decorations.

'We have suggested to all Ganpati mandals to depict these two issues confronting the city and the state prominently during the celebrations, as a public service,' Pandurang Jadhav, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti (BSGSS), told IANS here Wednesday.

'Hundreds of artists are furiously working to give finishing touches to tableaux depicting an 'artist's impression' of the twin themes of terrorism and swine flu that are uppermost on the minds of the people,' he added.

Jadhav said that Mumbai has been scarred by the 26/11 terror attacks and the city, along with Pune has been reeling under the grip of swine flu. As many as 17 people have died of swine flu in the state so far.

'We are holding this festival to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesh and simultaneously, spread the social message as thousands of people take part during the 10-day festivities,' Jadhav said.

Satish Khankar, president of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal (LRSGM) in south-central Mumbai, told IANS: 'We do not put up thematic displays here. But we have taken very high security precautions for the 15 million (1.50 crore) devotees from Mumbai, Maharashtra and other parts of India who will come here during the 10-days.'

'Apart from the 12-foot tall idol of Lord Ganesh whose eyes will watch each devotee, scores of electronic eyes will also monitor the situation in and around the venue,' Khankar said.