Harivansh Rai Bachchan cremated

The mortal remains of noted poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan were consigned to flames amid chanting of hymns at the Ruia Park crematorium in suburban Juhu in Mumbai on Sunday evening.

Elder son Amitabh Bachchan lit the funeral pyre.

The 96-year-old poet died of prolonged illness at Amitabh's residence Pratiksha on Saturday night.

Admirers of Harivansh Rai chanted Ram nam satya hai and Harivansh Rai amar rahe as water from the Ganga was sprinkled over the body before the funeral pyre was lit.

A sea of humanity converged at Pratiksha and people from different walks of life participated in the procession to the crematorium.

Among those who attended the funeral included former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, film personalities Sujit Kumar, Yash Chopra, Prakash Mehra, Randhir Kapoor and his brothers Rishi and Chimpoo, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher and industrialist Anil Ambani.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his predecessor Vilasrao Deshmukh visited Pratiksha and paid floral tributes to the departed soul.

Film luminaries Yash Chopra, Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Danny, Randhir Kapoor, Honey Irani, Anil Kapoor, Goldie Behl and Amrish Puri were among the first to call on the bereaved family on Saturday night.

From around midnight, a steady stream of mourners offered condolences to Amitabh, his wife Jaya, daughter Shweta and son Abhishek.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan dead
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