I feel blessed to attend Kali Puja at Chief Minister's residence: Governor

Kolkata: Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife visited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence to attend Kali Puja on Sunday evening.

Dhankar, accompanied by his wife reached Banerjee's house at 6.45 pm. They were greeted by the Chief Minister as soon as they got out of their car and were taken into her room. Later, she took them to the place where the idol was placed and the Puja was performed.

Banerjee and Dhankhar were found exchanging pleasantries during his stay. The Chief Minister served tea to the Governor and his wife and the two were also present during the 'aarati'. They were also served homemade sweets made of molasses, popularly known as naru.

Dhankhar expressed his pleasure at the hospitality of the Chief Minister and after spending nearly two hours at her house, he left for Raj Bhavan.

"Anyone who comes to a Puja comes with a pure heart and leaves with a purer heart. I feel blessed to attend the Puja that is being organised at her home since 1978," Dhankhar told media persons.

He was also pleased with the ambience and the songs written by Banerjee herself that were played during his stay. "I have asked for a CD of her songs and she (the Chief Minister) said that she would soon send it to me," the Governor added.

It may be mentioned that Dhankhar had expressed his desire to visit the Chief Minister's place on Bhatridwitiya (popularly known as Bhai Phonta) – which is considered an auspicious day for brothers and sisters. However, Banerjee invited him on Kali Puja instead.

A statement from Raj Bhavan stated that Banerjee had clarified that she would be preoccupied with matters of communal harmony on the day of Bhai Phonta.

Speaker Biman Banerjee, state Education minister Partha Chatterjee, Mayor Firhad Hakim, state Finance minister Amit Mitra and senior officials of the administration were also present during the Puja.

Residents of Nabanir- an old-age home at Chetla, also attended the Kali Puja celebrations. Banerjee visits the old-age home every year before Durga Puja and spends some time with the elderly while they attend Kali Puja at her residence.

Banerjee was seen offering homemade sweets to everybody present and apart from greeting the guests, she was also seen preparing bhog for the Puja.