#RIPLataMangeshkar: India's Nightingale laid to rest with full state honors
Millions of fans across the world were left mourning the loss of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar who passed away on Sunday. Her last rites were held with full state honors at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Her family members, along with Bollywood celebrities and top political leaders, were in attendance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also flown to Mumbai to attend the funeral. Here's more.
The police offered a salami as Mangeshkar's mortal remains left her Peddar Road residence. The funeral began after the cortege arrived at Shivaji Park at 5:40pm. Anticipating a huge crowd and due to PM Modi and Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray's attendance, the BMC accorded Shivaji Park a temporary cremation ground status. The same was done for Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's cremation in 2012.
Citing central government sources, media portals reported that two-day mourning will be observed nationwide as a sign of respect. The Maharashtra government announced a public holiday on Monday to mourn the loss. The West Bengal government also announced a half-day holiday on Monday as a mark of respect to Mangeshkar, while the Karnataka government declared two days of state mourning.
As soon as the news of Mangeshkar's demise surfaced, PM Modi took to Twitter to express his grief. Thereafter, the prime minister announced he will be flying to Mumbai to attend the last rites of the iconic singer. Further, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had deferred the release of its manifesto for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as a mark of respect.
The mortal remains of the legend were brought to her Peddar Road residence, Prabhu Kunj, from Breach Candy Hospital at around 1:00pm. Thereafter, several Bollywood celebrities like Anupam Kher, Javed Akhtar, and Amitabh Bachchan reached her house to pay their respects. Shraddha Kapoor, a distant relative of Mangeshkar, was also spotted at Prabhu Kunj. Notably, Kapoor had visited Mangeshkar at the hospital on Saturday.
#WATCH Amitabh Bachchan arrives to pay last respects to singer Lata Mangeshkar at her 'Prabhukunj' residence in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/BKzJflbLpX
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2022
To recall, the 92-year-old singer had been admitted to the hospital on January 8 after contracting COVID-19. Although her symptoms were mild initially, her condition deteriorated later and Mangeshkar had to be put on ventilator support as well. As per the doctors who treated her, the "Queen of Melody" passed away due to multi-organ failure on Sunday morning. May her soul rest in peace.
