Ministers, celebs leave schedule aside for Bhai Phonta

Kolkata: Politicians and celebrities took time out of their busy schedule to take 'phonta' from their sisters, who wished them health and prosperity on the occasion of Bhai Phonta, that was observed with great enthusiasm in the city.

Cabinet ministers Subrata Mukherjee, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Partha Chatterjee, Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas and Rabindranath Ghosh were all busy throughout the day, observing the rituals of 'Bhai Phonta'.

State Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee took phonta from his four sisters at his Ekdalia residence in Gariahat. "Politics always take a back seat on this day and I focus my mind entirely on Bhai Phonta. I have presented sarees to all my sisters, while they served sweets and treated me with a sumptuous lunch. I cannot eat much nowadays, but I taste everything in small quantities," Mukherjee said.

State Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, clad in dhoti-punjabi, took phonta from two sisters during the day. "This is a social festival and I have an emotional attachment with Bhai Phonta. I never miss the opportunity to be present at my residence in the morning for observing the rituals. In the afternoon I visit the residence of one of my sisters at Dakshineshwar and have a gala lunch with fish, meat and various other items," he said.

Mayor and State Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim also took phota from his sisters at his Chetla residence on Tuesday morning. "I have certain restrictions on what I can eat but on this day I relish every item. I am a Bengali by heart and every year I observe this day like a typical Bengali. I have my lunch at Didi's (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) house and it will be no exception this time as well," Hakim said.

State Youth Affairs and Sports minister Aroop Biswas was given phota by Tollywood celebrities like Priyanka Sarkar, June Malia, Nusrat and Mimi Chakraborty to name a few. The inmates of Navanir, the old-age home in Chetla, also gave phonta to the minister.

State Education minister Partha Chatterjee and North Bengal Development minister Rabindranath Ghosh were also seen wearing dhoti-kurta while taking phonta from their sisters.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh took part in mass phonta at the BJP office, while BJP leader Rahul Sinha observed the rituals at his residence in Baghajatin.

Actor Prasenjit Chatterjee took phonta from his sister Pallabi

Chatterjee, while singer Monomoy Bhattacharjee took phonta from his sister.