Kolkata, Sep 14 (IANS) With well-known figures from diverse fields gathered, the richness of Bengali culture was put on display as the West Bengal government Friday joined hands with Kolkata Municipal Corporation to honour President Pranab Mukherjee, the first man from the state to grace the nation's highest constitutional office.
The grand celebration was a picture of grace and style. President Mukherjee was clad in the traditional "dhoti-kurta," and he was all smiles.
In the audience was the creme de la creme of Bengali society - veteran singer Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, yesteryear's reel heart throb Supriya Devi, seasoned cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya, industrialist Sanjiv Goenka and painter Jogen Choudhury.
The Netaji Indoor Stadium was specially fitted for the occasion, and the entire state cabinet was in attendance.
Mukherjee was presented a glass statue of poet Rabindranath Tagore, a memento and a traditional dhoti and kurta by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhaya and Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chattopadhyay also presented mementoes to President Mukherjee.
School students presented Bengali songs in chorus; Rabindra Sangeet was performed, besides traditional dance forms of the state like Chou. The audience was enthralled.
In her address at the ceremony, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remembered her long political and personal association with Mukherjee.
"It is a protocol to address as the President 'Sir'. But I really don't know what to say, whether President Pranab Mukherjee or Pranabda (elder brother Pranab), which is what I'm used to. We have a relationship that goes back three decades," Banerjee said.
"I still can't believe that our own Pranabda has become President of India. We are very happy. We have very fond memories, sometimes he used to scold us, sometimes he used to advise me, sometimes we used to quarrel," she said.
Mukherjee, who spoke in Bengali, said the felicitation from his home state was a great honour.
"I feel honoured. This is a state in which I have grown up, as a person and even politically. I won't thank the luminaries who have graced this occasion. Rather, I would bow my head before them. They have made us proud with their contribution in science, literature, arts, culture and sports," he said.
Mukherjee, who arrived here earlier Friday on his first visit to West Bengal after assuming the nation's highest constitutional office, was received at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport by Governor M.K. Narayanan and the chief minister. A contingent from the armed forces presented a ceremonial guard of honour.
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