Pranab at his village for Durga Puja

President Pranab Mukherjee arrived here on Saturday en route to his ancestral village Kirnahar in Birbhum district of West Bengal for Durga Puja.

Mr. Mukherjee was greeted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor M.K. Narayanan at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.

Staying with sister

Mr. Mukherjee had a talk with Ms. Banerjee before flying in a helicopter to Kirnahar, where he will stay till October 23 with his elder sister Annapurna Devi.

He will worship the family deity Goddess Durga at his village home at Mirati, about three kilometres from Kirnahar.

Security personnel have been deployed at stretches between the two villages. Mr. Mukherjee has maintained the tradition of visiting his ancestral village to participate during Durga Puja.

However, this time camerapersons will not be allowed as per protocol. This is his first visit to his ancestral home since becoming the President in July.

Mr. Mukherjee will inaugurate the Mirati Junior High School in the village and attend a felicitation programme.

‘Pranab’s school’

He will also inaugurate an exhibition called “Pranab's School — School's Pranab” at the village, a Rashtrapati Bhavan release said.