Supporters pay tribute to AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa in Madurai. PTI Tearful adieu to Jaya
» Jayalalithaa laid to rest next to her political mentor MGR's memorial at Marina Beach in Chennai
» Her close aide Sasikala and Deepak Jayakumar, son of Jaya's deceased brother Jayakumar, perform Jayalalithaa's last rites
» Thousands of supporters, political leaders including Rahul Gandhi, TN speaker attend the funeral
» PM Modi pays floral tributes to Jaya, speaks to Sasikala and Panneerselvam at Rajaji Hall
» President Pranab Mukherjee pays respects to Jaya in Chennai after a technical snag delayed his journey
The funeral procession of Tamil Nadu's former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in Chennai on Tuesday. EV Sreekumar» Opposition leader in TN Assembly Stalin and DMK supremo Karunanidhi pay last respects
» Tamil Nadu government declares seven days of mourning, Center declares one-day mourning; Kerala govt announces holiday for all government offices and educational institutions, including professional colleges, in the state on Tuesday
» Jayalalithaa breathed her last at the Apollo Hospital just before Monday midnight, 24 hours after she suffered a cardiac arrest
» Inconsolable supporters and AIADMK cadre followed the funeral procession
» Schools and colleges in TN will be closed for three days
Chennai: Thousands of grieving men and women Tuesday bid a tearful adieu to J Jayalalithaa, the charismatic chief minister who held sway over Tamil Nadu politics for more than three decades with a pro-poor image, as the AIADMK supremo was buried here with full state honors.
President Pranab Mukherjee, prime minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, union minister Venkaiah Naidu, chief minister O Panneerselvam, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, governor Vidyasagar Rao, DMK leader M.K. Stalin and superstar Rajnikanth were among the dignitaries who paid homage at Rajaji Hall, where the body of 68-year-old Jayalalithaa lay in state since early morning.
Sasikala – a powerful presence
Sasikala Natarajan, the close confidante of Jayalalithaa for over three decades, was beside the body throughout the day and later conducted the religious rituals before the sandalwood casket was lowered at a site close to MGR memorial on the shores of Marina beach. Sasikala performed the last rites along with Deepak Vijayakumar, son of Jaya's deceased brother Vijayakumar.
No sooner had the brief rituals concluded at around 6.00 pm, the casket carrying the mortal remains of the five-time chief minister was lowered after a gun salute amid emotional chants of 'Amma Vazhga' (Long Live Amma) by a sea of humanity which had converged at the burial site.
Various leaders including Naidu, Rao, Rahul Gandhi, opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Paneerselvam, speaker Dhanapal and former governor K Rosiah placed wreaths at the feet of the body that was draped in a silk saree in her favorite green colour and a sandalwood garland placed around her neck.
Earlier, thousands of people hailing 'Puratchi Thalaivi Amma' (Revolutionary Leader Amma) walked with the cortege that was part of a military convoy in which her coffin was carried, wrapped in the national flag and covered with flowers.
Amid heavy security cover, the funeral procession made steady progress to the destination, a distance of three km from Rajaji Hall in the government estate, passing through Madras University and the burial site opposite the British-era iconic PWD building.
Big photographs of Jayalalithaa, an actor-turned- politician, were placed all around the coffin even as people showered the hearse with flowers, as Sasikala accompanied the body.
With the central government ordering a state funeral, personnel from the three armed forces paid their respects and gave a guard of honor before Sasikala and Jaya's niece Deepak conducted the last rites with the aid of a Brahmin priest.
The rituals include sprinkling of water, offering of rice, showering of flower petals and sandalwood pieces.
Jayalalithaa buried, not cremated
Jayalalithaa, a spinster who never shied away from flaunting her religious identity and beliefs, was surprisingly buried and not cremated. She was laid to rest by the side of her mentor and actor-turned politician M.G. Ramachandran, a former chief minister.
Lakhs of people had packed the area around Rajaji Hall where men and women wept in grief as they attempted to reach the body of their Amma or "mother".
The mortal remains of Jayalalithaa was earlier taken from her Poes Garden residence to Rajaji Hall, hours after she died at a private hospital late last night after battling for life for 75 days. .
PM, Prez pay tribute
Modi flew in from Delhi to pay his homage to Jayalalithaa with whom he enjoyed a personal rapport. The prime minister consoled a teary-eyed Sasikala and placed his hand over her head. The atmosphere was surcharged as Modi, amid tight security, walked into Rajaji Hall.
As he walked towards Panneerselvam after placing a wreath near the body, the latter broke down and hugged him. Modi affectionately patted him, suggesting that he be strong.
PM Modi pays last respects to Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall on Tuesday. PTIAn Indian Air Force plane carrying president Pranab Mukherjee to Chennai for the funeral returned mid-way due to a technical snag. He took off in the same aircraft after about an hour once the snag was fixed.
He took off in the same aircraft after about an hour once the snag was fixed.
Peaceful procession
En route the funeral procession, those on board the cavalcade showered flower petals all along even as AIADMK workers and supporters walked along chanting "Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Pugazh Onguga" (Let the reputation of Revolutionary Leader Amma grow).
Emotional men and women thronged terraces of high rise buildings and on both sides of the road, for having a last glimpse of the departed leader that was being taken in a long cavalcade of several vehicles besides the gun-carriage.
Amid tight security, which included the deployment of armed reserve and rapid action forces, the procession wound its way to the famous Marina Beach peacefully.
Tens of thousands of party workers and common people had gathered at the MGR memorial site there, waiting patiently for several hours to witness the burial ceremony.
A host of film personalities, including superstar Rajinikanth, actors Sarath Kumar, Sivakarthikeyan, Dhanush, actress Gauthami, besides veteran artistes who had worked with Jayalalithaa decades ago, also paid their last respects.
TN comes to a halt
Public transport services, including autorickshaws, were off the roads while some private vehicles were seen plying in various parts of the city where police personnel kept a tight vigil at vantage points.
A near total shutdown like situation prevailed in the city and several several other parts of the state since last evening itself.
(With agency inputs)
