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When President Pranab made Santa's day

October 17, 2014 11:16 IST

Christmas came two months earlier for President Pranab Mukherjee when he visited Santa Claus’s official workplace, Rovaneimi, Finland and met him in person.

Mukherjee is the first Indian president to visit Santa’s workplace. 

Santa Claus exchanges gifts with President Pranab Mukherjee during the latter’s visit to Santa’s official work place official workplace, Rovaneimi, Finland. Photograph. PTI photo
 

Mukherjee, accompanied by his daughter Sharmistha, spent a 'fairytale' day with a host of activities, including a meeting with Santa and his elves, crossing the Arctic Circle and watching reindeers in action.

Mukherjee, was greeted by the elves in Santa’s office as the giant pendulum called “Earth’s Rotational Speed Regulator” at its entrance was swinging.

Its’s smiles and hugs as President Pranab and his daughter share some time with Santa. Photograph: Rashtrapati Bhavan
 

The President saw longest wishlist received by Santa Claus in December, 2012 carrying 75,954 wishes.

Mukherjee told Santa that “people in India love you a lot. By meeting you, you have made my day.”

President Pranab at Santa’s official work place. Photograph: Rashtrapati Bhavan
 

However, Santa replied: “No excellency, you are the President of such a big nation. By coming here you have made my day.”

The meet between two created quite buzz on Twitter with many users tweeting about the meeting. 

Santa Claus poses with an idol of Lord Ganesh which President Pranab Mukherjee gifted him. Photograph: PTI photo
 

One such tweet that caught our fancy was from writer @kiranmanral, who tweeted, “So now. After we've sat the brat down and explained that Santa Claus does not exist, the President goes and exchanges gifts with him. Hmmph.”