The last rites of 85 year old spiritual leader Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba began with full state honors at Prashanti Nilayam this morning amid the chanting of Vedic hymns. The ceremonies began at 9 am in Sai Kulwant Hall, where the Baba used to give 'darshan' to devotees and deliver discourses. As the rituals began inside, policemen outside Prashanti Nilayam gave a gun salute.
Only selected people, including family members of Baba, members and officials of Sathya Sai Central Trust, his close disciples and VIPs, were attending the last rites. Baba's nephew R J Ratnakar performed rituals like sprinkling of holy water on the mortal remains before the burial. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader L K Advani, Punjab Governor Shirvraj Patil, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and several ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka paid their last respects.
Sathya Sai Baba's funeral to be a private affair
Sathya Sai Baba death Thousands throng Prashanthi Nilayam
Thousands throng Puttaparthi - 01
Thousands throng Puttaparthi - 02
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