Sombre mood of Puja at Pranab Mukherjees ancestral home

The Mukherjee residence at Mirati village in Birbhum is celebrating 126 years of traditional puja revelries.

Mirati:The Mukherjee residence at Mirati village in Birbhum is celebrating 126 years of traditional puja revelries. Last year in the month of August, just a couple of months before the Durga Puja, the former Indian President, Pranab Mukherjee, a jewel of the Mukherjee family expired. He was popular among the villagers as “Paltuda” even during his last days. He is no more. So the Puja ambience this time there is slightly sombre.

The podium in the house where the Puja is conducted every year had a deserted look even on Monday. The usual crowd is missing. However, the Pujas will be conducted this year as per tradition, informed Avijit Mukherjee, former MP and the son of Pranab Mukherjee. Taraknath Mukherjee started this Puja in the year 1896. He was the grandfather of Pranab Mukherjee. Later the Puja became famous as the ancestral Puja of the Indian president. The 126th year of this Puja is being celebrated this year.

Pranab Mukherjee expired on August 31, 2020. He was the 13th Indian President and a Bharat Ratna awardee. He actively participated in the Puja and performed all rituals diligently. People used to come to listen to his recitation of “Chandi Mantra”. He was popular among the local people as Paltuda. The Mukherjee family Puja was the centre of attraction for the entire village.

However, in the absence of the president, the ambience is sombre this time. The footfall is lesser. “In absence of my father, the Puja has lost much of its charm. The crowd is thinner. When he used to come, around 1,000 people including police personnel, bureaucrats and security personnel, used to come along with him. The local people used to come to meet him. But we will continue with the Puja as per tradition,” Avijit Mukherjee said.