May the Nepal King come out of these troubled times, prays his Kolkata priest

Mukherjee is a fully-devoted priest at the Kalighat Temple, but has travelled to Nepal whenever the royal family has needed him to perform pujas. He has also enjoyed patronage from previous Nepali governments.

He is firm in his resolve that he cannot take money from a party that has “risen to power through bloodshed”.

“Once Prachanda takes oath, I shall do pujas for free as a mark of respect to the royal family. I disapprove of this government,” Mukherjee said.

The priest said he cherishes his association with the King. Mukherjee will rather go directly to King Gyanendra if he needs any assistance. “I don’t think the new rulers in Kathmandu is much for pujas,” he said.

The Nepalis by tradition are worshippers of Kali (the Hindu goddess of power), Mukherjee added.

Mukherjee for long has been entitled to several benefits from Nepali governments, including a monthly honorarium and travel expenses on his annual trips to that country.

Mukherjee’s occupation as the Royal Priest of Nepal, included among other things, performing the rites and religious ceremonies for the family.

He also performs a daily puja to seek blessings for the royal family in the Kalighat Temple.

The Mukherjee family has been priests for the Nepali royal family for many generations.

Having taken over this job at 22, Mukherjee has performed puja for King Tribhuvan, King Mahendra and King Birendra (for whose coronation he had been present in the Narayanhiti Palace) and the present King Gyanendra.

His last meeting with King Gyanendra was when he had visited the Kalighat Temple soon after his coronation. With a tinge of sadness, Mukherjee added: “The royalty of Nepal has been my family for generations.”