Former PM's daughter Namita immerses his ashes into River Ganges
A part of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ashes were immersed in River Ganges in Uttrakhand's Haridwar. The rest of ashes will be immersed in the rivers across the nation in next few days. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat, chief ministers of other states and BJP president Amit Shah were among several leaders who were present at during the riyals performed in Haridwar today.
The ashes were immersed after a Asthi Kalash Yatra in the holy city. The procession, led by the BJP President and the Home Minister in the presence of former PM Vajpayee's family, was attended by a massive crowd which walked along a rath carrying the Asthi Kalash for almost five kilometres from the Shanti Kunj Ashram to Har ki Paudi.
One of the most charismatic leaders in independent India, Vajpayee passed away in Delhi on Thursday at the age of 93. He was cremated with full State honours at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal in the national capital on Friday.
Highlights:
01:35 pm: A part of former PM's ashes will now be taken to Lucknow, where his ashes will be immersed in Gomti river after a prayer meeting. The Uttar Pradesh government said Vajpayee's ashes will arrive at the Lucknow airport today evening. "The ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will arrive at the Lucknow airport tomorrow at around 4 pm. It shall be escorted in a cavalcade to the Uttar Pradesh BJP headquarters," a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said yesterday.
01:16 am: Former PM's daughter Namita immerses his ashes into River Ganges.
12:10 pm: A massive crowd has turned up for 'Asthi Kalash Yatra'. People from across the party lines, social strata and power status are being spotted at the procession. The yatra will end at the Har Ki Pauri, an ancient holy bank of River Ganges, where former PM Vajpayee's ashes will be immersed in the presence of his family members and BJP leaders.
11:50 am:
11:35 am: Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 'Asthi Kalash Yatra' begins from Panna Lal Bhalla Municipal Inter College in Haridwar. The ashes will be taken from the college to Prem Ashram, then to Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar for immersion
11:17 am: Uttarakhand: BJP President Amit Shah arrives at Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport with the ashes of former PM PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The ashes will be taken to Prem Ashram, then to Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar for immersion. HM Rajnath Singh will also be present during immersion of ashes
09:17 am: Three urns carrying ashes of former prime minister PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee collected from Delhi's Smriti Sthal; the ashes will be taken to Prem Ashram, then to Har-ki-Pauri in Uttarakhand's Haridwar for immersion. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be present during immersion of ashes
An all-party prayer meeting for the BJP stalwart will be held in Delhi on August 20 and another such meeting will be organised in Lucknow on August 23 since Vajpayee's appeal cut across political divide. Apart from the home minister and Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Vajpayee's relatives will attend the Lucknow prayer meeting. The prayer meeting in Delhi will be attended by leaders from different political parties and noted citizens.
"His (Vajpayee's) ashes will be immersed in various sacred rivers across the country and the 'asthi kalash' taken to all the districts headquarters and state capitals. Prayer meetings will take place in the state capitals, district headquarters and at the panchayat level," a BJP leader told media. The Uttar Pradesh government said Vajpayee's ashes will arrive at the Lucknow airport today evening.
"The ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will arrive at the Lucknow airport tomorrow at around 4 pm. It shall be escorted in a cavalcade to the Uttar Pradesh BJP headquarters," a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said yesterday.
