RIP Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Pics of last rites

Tens of thousands of commoners joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah in the final journey to bid adieu to Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the former Prime Minister's body was being taken to Rashtriya Smriti Sthal on the banks of Yamuna river for the last rites.

The journey began around 2 p.m. from the BJP's new central office on the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. PM Modi and Amit Shah walked behind the flower-decked gun carriage carrying the body of Vajpayee draped in the tricolour as security personnel kept a tight watch.

PM Modi, Amit Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Yogi Adityanath received the body near the gate of the party office. They later paid their tributes by offering flowers. 

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and other senior leaders including L.K. Advani and Sitaram Yechury, and thousands of people paid their tributes as the mortal remains of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reached the party's central office.

Prime Minister Modi pays his tributes to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the last rites at Smriti Sthal

President Ram Nath Kovind pays his tribute to the late former India Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the last rites.

People from across the country, many of them teary-eyed, threw flower petals on the casket all through the three-kilometer route as an expression of their love, respect and admiration for the late leader.

The Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu pays his tribute to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his last rites

The Bhutanese King visited the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters and placed a wreath on the body of Vajpayee, which was lying in state for people to pay their last respects.

Veteran BJP leader L. K. Advani pays his tribute to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the last rites.

BJP President Amit Shah pays his tributes to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the last rites. 

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh pay their tributes during the last rites of the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee

President Ram Nath Kovind pays his tribute to the late former India Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the last rites.

Former India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pays his tributes to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his last rites.

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa pays his tribute to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the last rites.

Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff, pays his tributes to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the last rites. 

Vajpayee’s granddaughter Niharika receives the Indian flag during the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee's last rites at Smriti Sthal.

Slogans like "Atalji amar rahen", "Jab tak sooraj chand rahega, Atalji ka naam rahega", "Bharat Mata ki jai" and "Vande Mataram" rent the air as the procession progressed. Some people were carrying banners containing lines from poems written by Vajpayee.