Patna, Jan 31 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Thursday criticised Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for his remarks ridiculing a popular festival of the state and protesters here burnt his effigies.

Nitish Kumar told reporters that some people are in the habit of making remarks to be in news, but he did not name Raj Thackeray.

Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Wednesday described Chhath, Bihar's most popular festival, as a drama and questioned the annual celebrations in Mumbai of Chhath as well as the Uttar Pradesh foundation day.

Nitish Kumar said: "Chhath is the most popular festival of people (in Bihar). It is a unique festival when people from every community come together."

Chhath, celebrated six days after Diwali, is a festival associated with the sun god. Married women observe fast during the course of the festival.

Over the years Chhath has become closely identified with Bihar - comparable to Bihu of Assam, Pongal of Tamil Nadu and the Ganesh festival of Maharashtra.

Lalu Prasad, chief of Bihar's main opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), advised Thackeray to celebrate Chhath instead of making fun of it. "He should refrain from criticising Chhath because harm may come to him if he does."

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief and Steel Minister Ramvilas Paswan also criticised Thackeray while LJP legislator Sanjay Singh said the remarks were directed against the popular festival as well as age-old rituals and customs.

Angry people across the state took to streets to protest the remarks. They burnt Thackeray's effigies in Patna and other cities and also demanded action against him.

(IANS)