Kirnahar (West Bengal), Sep 26 - Away from laying down national policies on tackling the slowdown and ensuring inclusive growth, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is now busy being the priest for the traditional Durga Puja celebrations at his ancestral home here.

Wearing the pattabastra (a silk cloth worn for worshipping the deity), Mukherjee performed the puja rituals Friday and Saturday and read from the religious script 'Sree Sree Chandi' at Miriti village, two km from this town in Birbhum district and about 200 km from Kolkata.

He fasted till all the rituals were over.

However, unlike in the past, Mukherjee did not go to the village pond to fill a pitcher, a ritual that started the prayers on Mahasaptami Friday.

Mukherjee has been performing the worship for the four-day autumnal festival - the biggest religious celebration for Bengalis - for years.