The entire state machinery has been pressed into service for the five-day visit of President Pratibha Patil.

According to sources, Patil had visited the state earlier, too, on a few occasions and was pleased with the welcome she was given in traditional Kathiyawadi manner.

Around five years ago, Patil had become a guest of a village sarpanch in Junagadh district.

Hirabhai Jotwa, the sarpanch of Supasi village which is around 10 km from Veraval, said the President who was the Governor of Rajasthan then, had visited the village while she was on her way to Somnath.

He said she also visited an educational institute in the village. Currently, Jotwa is president of the Verval taluka Congress unit.

Jotwa said Patil had visited the state earlier also in the same year before the Lok Sabha elections. She had come to finalise the party candidates for the elections. She visited the state as a Congress party observer.

“On her arrival at Supasi village, villagers gave her a warm welcome in a true Kathiyawadi tradition of playing band and drum beats. She was offered green coconut water. She was pleased after visiting our village,” Jotwa said.

She is scheduled to visit here tomorrow.