MUMBAI: The earth appeared to halt on its axis at 8.12am Sunday as the nation suffered the collective shock it had been dreading for weeks. The Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar breathed her last at Breach Candy Hospital at age 92.
A nation of 1.3 billion distraught fans sought consolation in the fact that 'Didi' had attained immortality by her music, for each note she sang led a stairway to heaven. This was another successive blow after the recent loss of Dilip Kumar.
Given her deteriorating health, the outcome was inevitable yet painful. The fateful hour arrived a day after
Saraswati Puja which is dedicated to the goddess of music.
PM Narendra Modi flew down to Mumbai for the final rites. The Centre declared two days of national mourning while the state government announced a public holiday Monday. The national flag atop Mantralaya was lowered to half staff as a mark of respect.
CM
Uddhav Thackeray awarded a state funeral at Shivaji Park to the singer who was also an old-time family friend. This singular honour was last given to his father, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. A special stage was erected at the ground to lay the bier.
Guardian minister Aaditya Thackeray took stock of Lataji's funeral arrangements on site. A large framed photograph of the legendary singer was installed.
Earlier, Lataji's remains were escorted by the
Thackerays
, including MNS leader
Raj, from hospital to her nearby residence Prabhu Kunj, Pedder Road, at 1.00pm. Here the body was draped in the tricolour.
Thousands of citizens lined the route to Shivaji Park, while her siblings Meena, Usha and Hridaynath Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle boarded the bedecked truck bearing the remains. Nephews and nieces walked beside the cortege.
Luminaries led by
Sharad Pawar, Amitabh Bachchan, Javed Akhtar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali visited the house to commiserate while scores of music celebrities apart from
Shah Rukh Khan and
Sachin Tendulkar arrived for the cremation.
The Dadar Vyapari Sangh shut shops in the area after 5.30pm as the traders joined the funeral.
More than 2,700 police personnel including 20 senior officers of DCP rank and above were deployed to take care of bandobast at Shivaji Park, Breach Candy Hospital, Prabhu Kunj and en route.
PM Modi's large cavalcade entered Shivaji Park around 6.25pm. He placed a wreath, circumambulated the body and met with Lataji's family before leaving soon at 6.30pm. CM Thackeray made an exit shortly after, given his own ill health.
Around 6.45pm Lataji's body was placed upon a bed of sandalwood and a pillow under her head was removed. The tricolour drape was folded back from her person.
Through the dismay, young and old music lovers expressed how fortunate they felt to have lived in an era of Lataji whose 70-year musical career lasted longer than the average lifespan -- through EPs, LPs, music cassettes, iPods and now online. Some recalled her fondness for silk saris, diamonds and food, others remembered her as an avid cheerleader of cricket.
At 7.00pm the chanting of mantras began as firewood and ghee was placed upon the remains. At 7.16pm her youngest sibling Hridaynath lit the pyre, supported by his older son Adinath. This moment on the Shashti of Magh Shuklapaksh, marked the end of an epoch in India's history.
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