Manekshaw laid to rest

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who died at Wellington Military Hospital, was buried on Friday beside the grave of his wife Siloo Bode as per his wish.

Siloo was buried at the same graveyard seven years ago. The last rites of India's most decorated soldier was a private affair with only close relatives and members of Parsi community in attendance.

Though there was a tradition of keeping the body in the open and allowing vultures to feed as per Parsi tradition, Manekshaw's body was cremated.

A cremated mass was held in the graveyard where family members paid floral tributes to the departed soul. The rites lasted about an hour. Hundreds of people were seen atop buildings and trees adjacent to the graveyard to watch the religious rites being performed. Security was tight in and around the graveyard with police and army officials controlling the public and the traffic.

Police requested the media, both electronic and print, not to take photos standing atop buildings as the "family members were objecting to playing with their religious sentiments".

Earlier, the body was brought to the graveyard in an open flower-bedecked military truck from Wellington, 21 km from Udhagamandalam.