Kollengode( Palakkad): MP Dr Shashi Tharoor set aside his busy schedule to visit his ancestral home in Mundarath House, Elevancherry, to celebrate the 90th birthday(Navathi) of his mother, Lily Tharoor. He arrived carrying sweets for the occasion.

The Navathi celebration brought together close relatives and family members and featured Mangala Deepam rituals and a musical programme.

Tharoor reached the family home on Thursday evening and, on Friday morning, visited the Perungottukavu Bhagavathy Temple and nearby temples along with family members for darshan and offerings. He later shared birthday sweets and the birthday sadya with his mother.

In the afternoon, a musical programme by the Palakkad-based troupe Beat N Tunes was held on a specially arranged stage in the backyard. Tharoor attended the programme, which featured a medley of old songs in multiple languages, favourites of Lily Tharoor.

Tharoor’s sisters, Shobha Tharoor and Smitha Tharoor, flew in from London for the celebration. Lily Tharoor’s siblings, Govindanunni, Narayananunni, Gopanunni, Mukundanunni, Bhanumathi, Renuka and Shobhana, were also present to offer their wishes.

Tharoor left for Kochi in the evening. Before departing, he expressed joy at having spent a full day with his family but also shared the sadness that his grandmother, Jayashankini Amma, was not alive to witness the reunion.