Lata Mangeshkar cremated with full state honours; Centre declares 2-day national mourning

New Delhi: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who died early Sunday, was cremated with full state honours at Mumbai's iconic Shivaji Park yesterday evening. She was 92.

The mortal remains of the Nightingale of India were taken home to Prabhukunj Building and kept there for a couple of hours for people to pay their last respects. Later, they were shifted to Shivaji Park where the public caught a final glimpse of her from 4-6.30 p.m.

Just before the last rites, the national flag in which the body was draped, was handed over to the family members. Lata Mangeshkar's brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar lit the funeral pyre of the singing legend.

The Government of India also announced two days of State morning as a mark of respect. During State mourning, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast from Feb 6 to 7 throughout India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Shivaji Park to pay his last respects to the singer and met the Mangeshkar family members and consoled them.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, megastar Shah Rukh Khan, lyricist Javed Akhtar, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, among others, were also in attendance to pay their last respects.

Lata Mangeshkar was diagnosed with Covid-19 and pneumonia in January. Her health briefly improved but on February 5, her condition deteriorated.

A recipient of the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Awards, Lata Mangeshkar was an icon of Indian cinema, having sung playback for an extensive list of Hindi films.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also offered tribute to the legendary singer.