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.

With India trailing the five-match Test series 0-2, Holding commented: "Indian players are wearing the black band not because they are 0-2 down."

The ritual, thereafter, will be performed in 100 other “sacred rivers” of the country.

The daily noted that no peacenik could favourably look upon Vajpayee's decision to campaign for and then conduct five nuclear tests as the Prime Minister in May 1998.

During the promotion of her upcoming film, 'Happy Phirr Bhaag Jaegi', Bollywood star Sonakshi Sinha also paid homage to the former Indian prime minister.

"Atalji's demise is referred to by many as end of an era. I, however, consider it as a continuation of the era of which he was one who laid the foundation," said Arun Jaitley.

After Vajpayee became prime minister, his alma mater published a write-up by him in the college magazine in 2002-03, which reveals more about the two.

Vajpayee's foster-daughter Namita lit the funeral pyre amidst the chanting of vedic hymns and firing of a 21-gun salute by soldiers.

During the procession, people chanted slogans like "Atal Bihari Amar Rahe" as Vajpayee's cortege made its way from the BJP headquarters to the cremation ground.

“People came from all parts of India, from all sections of society pay tributes to an extraordinary personality who made an extraordinary contribution to the nation. India salutes you Atal Ji!,” PM Modi tweeted

Vajpayee was elected from the Lucknow constituency in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004 and had represented the state’s capital in the Lok Sabha for five consecutive terms. 

An era has ended today. Atal Ji was not only ‘atal’ (enduring) in name, he was ‘atal’ in his personality, he was ‘atal’ in his ideology, throughout his life he remained ‘atal’ in honesty.

Thann Gayi Maut Se Thann Gayi was dropped from the 2014 album Antarnaad, which was dedicated to poems written by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Agvinesh alleged that the attackers were BJP workers. A video of the incident circulated on the social media showed the 79-year-old social activist being attacked by some people.

Shah Rukh Khan said he considered himself the "luckiest to have had Atal Bihari Vajpayee's influence" on his life during his "formative years".

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's popularity in Pakistan was evident by the way the media of that country covered the news of his death.

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Indians will reflect on Vajpayee's many contributions that led to India's rise as a global and economic power.

President Kovind, PM Modi paid their last respects to Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal.

Vajpayee, the founder-president of the ruling BJP, breathed his last at 5.05 pm on Thursday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital.

Vajpayee's last rites will be performed at 4 pm on Friday at Smriti Sthal in Delhi.