Bal Thackeray cremated with state honours amidst sea of mourners

Mumbai, Nov 18 : Lakhs of people paid last tributes to their beloved leader and Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray here Sunday as his mortal remains were consigned to the flames. Thackeray's son Uddhav lit the pyre at 6.17 p.m.Uddhav's cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj stood by him in support as Thackeray's mortal remains were consigned to the flames.Uddhav was an epitome of compassion and dignity as he lit the funeral pyre of his father. He had earlier broken down at the beginning of the funeral procession.Amidst the chanting of holy mantras, while conducting the last rites, Uddhav led Raj by his hand, implying they be together during the sad moment, just as his father wished since the past few months.However, only minutes before the funeral pyre was lit, Raj broke down, with tears streaming down his cheeks.The public cremation of Thackeray is a first for Mumbai and he was cremated with full state honours, including a gun salute.A sea of humanity poured out on all roads leading to Dadar's Shivaji Park in central Mumbai where the funeral procession reached seven hours after it started from Matoshri, the Thackeray residence seven kms away.Thackeray's personal physician Jalil Parkar was present during his last rites all throughout. It was a rare honour for this Muslim doctor who had come to be an important fixture of the Thackeray family. Parkar has been the personal physician of the family since the last four years.Many VVIPs including businessmen, politicians and members of the Hindi and Marathi films industries marked their presence to pay their final tribute to Thackeray. Senior leaders from all regional and national political parties were present to pay their last respects to the leader popularly known as The Tiger.Security arrangements at levels never before seen were put in place since Saturday. According to conservative estimates by the Mumbai police, over 19 lakh people, including those gathered at the Shivaji Park, bid adieu to Thackeray. Around two lakh people followed Thackeray's funeral procession.Following is the timeline of the live reporting that India TV provided you:6:24 pm : As the funeral pyre burns with Brahmins chanting holy mantras, the huge sea of mourner quietly disperses, with most of them in tears. 6:15 pm : As the sun sets, Udhav Thackeray finally circles the funeral pyre and the pyre is lit. The mortal remains of Balasaheb Thackeray is finally consigned to flames.6:10 pm : The Brahmins recite the mantras for the final rites.6:09 pm : Uddhav sprinkles holy 'samidha' on the funeral pyre, as other join in. Reports that Raj Thackeray broke down when The Last Post was played.6:07 pm : Ghee (clarified butter) is poured on the funeral pyre, with Uddhav standing calm and composed but looking sad. The patriarch is still wearing his black goggles, even as the wooden logs are put on the pyre. 6:04 pm : Udhav Thackeray and Raj place the first two logs of sandalwood on the mortal remains to the chants of Amar Rahe Amar Rahe. Soon, other leaders and relatives place logs on the mortal remains. One more slogan heard: Jab Tak Sooraj Chand Rahega, Balasaheb tera naam rahega.6:01 pm : Udhav Thackeray wearing a white kurta sprinkles holy water on his father's mortal remains to the chants of Brahmins present.5:57 pm : Mumbai police offers gun salute. Buglers sound The Last Post. Huge sea of mourners fall silent as the soulful strains of the bugle fill the air in Shivaji Park.5:53 pm : Mortal remains of Bal Thackeray carried and put on top of funeral pyres by family relatives and friends. Defeaning roar of Balasaheb Amar Rahe resounds across Shivaji Park. Mumbai policemen reverse arms in final farewell salute. 5:45 pm : Uddhav Thackeray wearing the sacred thread and a straw tied at the back of his crop of hair, sprinkles Gangajal on the funeral pyre and circles the pyre.5:40 pm : Raj Thackeray and other family relatives stand near the funeral pyre silent. Not far away, Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Ambani, looking sad and morose, sit in their chairs.5:23 pm : Mumbai policemen take away the national tricolour that was covering the body and fold it up in reverence.5:20 pm : After the wreath laying rites are over, Mumbai policemen take away the bier with Bal Thackeray's mortal remains and put it on an elevated platform. Shiv Sainiks scramble to touch their leader's body amidst deafening slogans, as a sea of mourner watches. 4:57 pm : Police personnel carrying the mortal remains of Bal Thackeray wrapped in the national tricolour reach Shivaji Park, with Udhav Thackeray leading with folded hands.4:55 pm : Rashmi Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray reach Shivaji Park. BJP leaders Shahnawaz Hussain, Smriti Irani, Prakash Javedkar also present at the funeral4:50 pm : Raj Thackeray, other Thackeray family members reach Shivaji Park . Crowd at Shivaji Park swells to several lakhs.4:30 pm : BJP MP Menaka Gandhi, BJP leaders Ram Naik, Gopinath Munde, Film director Mahesh Manjrekar, actor Nana Patekar, Riteish Deshmukh, Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal reach Shivaji Park4:22 pm : BJP leaders L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, NCP leaders Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel,present at Shivaji Park to attend funeral4:20 pm : Cortege carrying Balasaheb Thackeray's body leaves Shivaji Bhavan and inches its way towards Shivaji Park.2:50 pm : Truck carrying Bal Thackeray's mortal remains reaches Shiv Sena Bhavan.2:00 pm : MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrives in Shivaji Park.1:50 pm : Large number of women, many of them weeping, sitting in Shivaji Park without food and water since morning.12:39 pm : Funeral procession reaches Matunga. Raj Thackeray not accompanying procession. Will reach Shivaji Park directly. Only Udhav Thackeray and family members on the truck carrying Thackeray's mortal remains.12:20 pm : Funeral procession stuck at Mahim for nearly 90 minutes due to huge crowds on the road. Flower bedecked truck moving inch by inch.11:00 am : Crowds on Mumbai's roads swell up to nearly 3 lakhs. 10,000 people in Shivaji Park, where bhajan, kirtan is going on. Nearly 35,000 people at Shiv Sena Bhavan, where party MPs, MLAs and other leaders will go up the truck to lay wreaths. 10:30 am : Flower bedecked truck carrying Bal Thackeray's mortal remains reaches Mahim Junction amidst a sea of mourners. Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar nearly 3 km away.10:25 am : More than 2 lakh people turn out on Mumbai's roads which are fully choked around Dadar. Western Express highway fully closed to traffic. Roads choked from Bandra Kala Nagar till Dadar Shivaji ParkHuge crowds at Mahim Junction, Bandra , Swami Vivekanand Road and Tulsi Pipe Road.Shiv Sainiks chanting slogans Shiv Sena Zindabad, Kaun Aala Re, Kaun Aala, Shiv Senecha Vagh Ala (Who's coming? It's the Shiv Sena tiger who is coming)10:00 am : More than 3 km long funeral procession with Thackeray's mortal remains from Kherwadi junction to Shivaji Park Dadar People chanting, weeping, waving Shiv Sena flags on roads. 9:15 am : Mumbai Police band plays mournful tunes. Thackeray's mortal remains will be covered in Indian tricolour.9:10 am : Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav and grandson Aditya alongwith family members carry Shiv Sena patriarch's mortal remains and come out of Matoshree residence.8:10 am : Nearly 20,000 Shiv Sainiks crowd outside Matoshree to have a last glimpse of Bal Thackeray's mortal remains. They do not disperse despite repeated police requests on the mike.8:00 am : MNS chief and Thackeray's nephew Raj Thackeray alongwith family members arrive at Matoshree. Lakhs of people, including Shiv Sena supporters, thronged the funeral procession of party chief Bal Thackeray here Sunday.