President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday made his maiden visit to the ancestral home of his in-laws where he was given a traditional reception meant for a “jamai” (Bengali woman’s husband).
“We received “Dadababu” (elder sister’s husband) with uuludhani and mangal pradip as he arrived with our sister Suvradi,” a cousin of Suvra Mukherjee said after the couple’s private visit.
A Bangladesh Air Force helicopter with the President and his wife landed at Narail town, from where they took a drive through village roads to Bhadrabila village, some 9 km away, to be received by their relatives.
“Pranab Mukherjee exchanged pleasantries with his in-laws and enquired about their welfare. He knew many of them while his wife introduced him to several other relatives,” Awami League legislator Fazilatunnesa Bappi said from the scene as she accompanied the couple.
Witnesses said the in-laws offered a golden chain to their “Dadababu” as a gift and a sari for their “didi”. During their 90-minute visit, they also went to a nearby Hindu temple and prayed there.
The enthusiastic relatives served coconut water and traditional Bengali sweets to their high-profile visitors, while a makeshift stage was erected at the premises of the household for the exclusive family reception.
The ancestors of Suvra Mukherjee migrated to India in the early 1950s after Partition in 1947. She was, however, born in Narail and did her early schooling in the town.
The First Lady earlier visited her ancestral home once in 1995 along with daughter Sharmistha, but Mr Mukherjee did not accompany her. The President is in Bangladesh on his first overseas visit after taking office.