How the President will celebrate Durga Puja

Mukherjee had earlier said he was doubtful whether he would be able to preside over the puja in his home once he was elected

Pranab Mukherjee’s annual visit to his his ancestral home in Mirati in Birbhum district, West Bengal, to preside over Durga puja celebrations will be a special one this year. This is the first time after becoming the country’s President Mukherjee is going to worship his family deity as the ‘chief priest’.

Moreover, the school where he studied — Shib Chandra High School in Kirnahar — will hold a special ceremony to felicitate Mukherjee for his achievements.

This year, there are more reasons for the Mukherjee family to celebrate. Apart from his elevation as the President in June, his son Abhijit Mukherjee was just elected as the member of the Lok Sabha from Jangipur.

 

During his four-day visit to his village starting on Saturday, President Mukherjee will also inaugurate an exhibition titled ‘Pranab’s School — School’s Pranab’.

In a free-wheeling conversation with reporters before the Presidential election in July, Mukherjee, when asked if he had any regrets, had said he was doubtful whether he would be able to continue his family tradition and preside over the Durga puja in his home once he was elected.

That wish, however, is set to be fulfilled.

He will also inaugurate the school building of Mirati Junior High School at his ancestral village.

Mukherjee has often recounted how, during his childhood, as there was no school in the village, he had to wade through knee-deep water to reach the Kirnahar school.

Mukherjee’s ties with his village and the local community there have always been strong, and except for a brief period, he has visited his ancestral home every year during Durga puja.