The last rites of Goa Chief Minister and former defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who died on Sunday after suffering from pancreatic cancer for over a year, were held with full military and state honours at the Miramar beach in Panaji yesterday evening.
Thousands of supporters and Bharatiya Janata Party workers accompanied the funeral cortege from the Kala Academy Arts and Cultural Centre, where the remains had been kept throughout the day for the public to pay last respects to the nearby Miramar beach.
The mortal remains of Parrikar, wrapped in the national tri-colour, were placed on a pyre amid a 21 gun salute at the beach and his elder son Utpal Parrikar consigned it to flames.
Parrikar, 63, is survived by two sons, their wives and a grandson.
Top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, part president Amit Shah, central ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani, Suresh Prabhu and Ramdas Athawale offered floral tributes to Parrikar.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also paid his last respects.
Parrikar was the chief minister on four separate occasions, but could not complete a single term in office. He served as defence minister in the Modi cabinet from 2014-17 before returning to state politics.
Meanwhile, the Goa Tourism Department yesterday cancelled the traditional Shigmo festivities, scheduled to be held from March 21, following Parrikar’s death.
State Tourism director Sanjiv Gadkar said the festivities were cancelled as a mark of respect and for the observance of mourning declared due to his death.
The state government on Sunday declared a one-day holiday and a seven-day official mourning following.
Shigmo is a week-long pre-Holi festivity celebrated by Hindus, whose style of celebration is similar to a carnival and is considered a big draw for tourists visiting the coastal state.
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