As the decked-up military truck carrying the mortal remains of Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma, head of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore, made its journey from Levee Hall, near East Fort, to the Kowdiar Palace on Monday evening, hundreds of people lined up on either side of the 5-km stretch to pay homage to the departed soul.
People who gathered at the Levee Hall, where the mortal remains were kept from early morning till around 2 p.m. for the public to pay their last respects, and at the Kowdiar Palace bid an emotional adieu to the head of the royal family before his mortal remains were consigned to flames at Panchavadi in the Kowdiar Palace compound on Monday around 6.30 p.m.
Shops situated on the stretch from Levee Hall to the Kowdiar Palace remained closed when the cortege made its solemn journey. It took almost two hours to reach Kowdiar Palace, passing through Pazhavagadi, Statue Junction, R.R. Lamp and Vellayambalam.
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Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma, son of Mr. Varma’s sister Karthika Tirunal, lit the funeral pyre.
Mr. Varma was cremated with State honours with the police presenting a guard of honour and gun salute.
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Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his Cabinet colleagues, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Sashi Tharoor, leaders of various political parties, senior government officials and religious heads attended the funeral ceremony.
Wreaths were placed on behalf of Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Governor Nikhil Kumar, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Gujarat Government on the mortal remains when it was kept at the Levee Hall.
A holiday had been declared on Monday for government offices and educational institutions in the district.